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Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Report: Olmert orders targeting of Hamas leadership as 1000th Qassam fired

2006-11-20

According to a report by British newspaper The Sunday Times, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert instructed the heads of the defense establishment to target members of the Hamas leadership - a decision made on the background of the fatal Qassam rocket that landed Wednesday in Sderot killing Fatima Slotzker and robbing one of Peretz's bodyguards of his legs. Israeli security sources apparently reported to the newspaper that the decision was made in cooperation with Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

I still don't think Olmert's got the cojones to go through with it. Netanyahu would, and Liberman certainly would, but Olmert is Son of Peres.

The latest attacks this weekend on Israel's south marked the 1000th rocket fired into Israel since the beginning of 2006, according to figures from the Yesha Council's rescue center. On Sunday morning a man was moderately-to-seriously injured by a Qassam rocket that landed in the southern city of Sderot. Six rockets have been fired at the city since Saturday night, police said, adding that two people were lightly injured in the latest attack. According to The Sunday Times report, after the incident last Wednesday, Israel decided in a desperate attempt to stop the Qassam rockets, not to allow Hamas political leadership in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and abroad to "escape responsibility" any longer, the newspaper writes.

The Sunday Times reported that Peretz was the one who advocated the change in tactics against Hamas. According to the report, the defense minister broke out in tears when he heard that one of his bodyguards was seriously wounded by rocket shrapnel and that his legs were amputated. The young man was injured while guarding Peretz's house in Sderot.

So it takes having someone you know maimed, rather than just the general run of the Great Unwashed?

Since the IDF completed its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip during the disengagement, Israel has avoided physically hurting the political leadership of Hamas, and instead focused on targeting only those active in the military wing of the organization. However, the Israelis moves have yet to stop the rockets.

The Paleos complain they don't have the money to pay salaries, but somehow they can afford 1000 rockets and tons of explosives.

Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Hamas leaders "have to disappear, go to paradise, all of them."

Preferably in a herd -- all in an afternoon, maybe.

In an interview with Voice of Israel, the minister explained: " There is no point in targeting refugee camps and Beit Hanoun and all such places. For those people, who live on ten shekels a day, there is nothing to lose. When they are killed, they recruit themselves gladly. We have to focus on those who have something to lose - the leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.?

The British newspaper mentioned Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin's comments that he made last week in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "The Gaza Strip is about to turn into the biggest terrorist compound on earth. We have no choice but to consider a massive military operation there," Diskin said. Diskin recommended trying to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, because he is widely viewed as a moderate and an antidote to the increasingly rampant extremism amongst Palestinians.

I agree with Lieberman: Abbas is a nonentity, as will be any Fatah "leader." Yasser never allowed any real leaders to contest his grip on power.

The IDF has been operating in the Gaza Strip since Friday night with the objective of stopping Qassam rocket fire into Israel, however, the IDF emphasized that this is not a return operation, but deployment within Palestinian territory in order to identify terrorists and Qassam cells and to strike at them. Two armed Palestinians were killed Saturday during an operation in Beit Lahiya

But they're cannon fodder...

Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal is slated to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz, and Education Minister Yuli Tamir on Sunday. Moyal said, "I assume that the situation of Sderot is known to all the officials and I understand that the meeting was called following the recent events."

Posted by:anonymous5089

#11 The Islamists are stupid enough to push the buttons until some real heavy sh*t happens, then everyone loses.

AP, I trust this is your equivalent of my own observation that Islam ~~can~~ will no more prevent its radicals from committing some jaw-dropping atrocity than it can make rivers run uphill. The jihadists simply cannot resist ratcheting up the number of innocents killed until it reaches a point where nuclear retaliation is the only appropriate response.

Posted by: Zenster 2006-11-20 23:27

#10 The last sentence should be:

The Islamists can smell ~~fear~~ weakness and they are going to attack again in the near future.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-11-20 21:43

#9 Israel is being boxed in. With new weaponry that was developed over the last 20 years, the margin for error is becoming zero. A major dirty weapon (NBC)can seriously contaminate parts of Israel that would be a nightmare to clean up. The only way that Israel can protect herself is to go on the offensive and preemptively eliminate or neutralize the threats. Under Olmert, this is not happening. The Islamists are stupid enough to push the buttons until some real heavy sh*t happens, then everyone loses.

The fiasco of the last war with Hamas in Lebanon was a disaster for Israel. I hope that Israel does what she has to do to survive the next one. The Islamists can smell fear and they are going to attack again in the near future.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-11-20 21:41

#8 #1 That do you think Oslo acords were all about?

Posted by: gromgoru 2006-11-20 20:34

#7 Hamas obviously is actively campaigning for Bibi.

Posted by: doc 2006-11-20 18:07

#6 Bout time.

Posted by: Icerigger 2006-11-20 15:40

#5 Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Hamas leaders "have to disappear, go to paradise, all of them." ... We have to focus on those who have something to lose - the leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.

These would be very encouraging words if it weren't for Olmert being in charge. His inertia has allowed for the enemy's formation of a perfect storm. The only thing missing is Iran's possesion of functional nuclear devices. As always, Arab terrorists will, nay, must overreach themselves and strike while the iron is cold. Otherwise, I'd be wagering on the Sampson Option right now.

Posted by: Zenster 2006-11-20 14:30

#4 Israel has avoided physically hurting the political leadership of Hamas, and instead focused on targeting only those active in the military wing of the organization.

Here's a hint: there's no difference between the "political" and the "military" wings. In fact, anyone who admits to being a member of Hamas is fair game.

Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-11-20 12:24

#3 Good points, AP.

So when are the next Israeli elections?

What do Israeli polls say - is Olmert as unpopular there as he is here - or is the scapegoating thingy working?

Is anyone showing sufficient strength to challenge Olmert?

Posted by: .com 2006-11-20 11:40

#2 If Olmert and Peretz stay in power, Israel is doomed. That sounds kind of strong, but look at the picture:
1. Gaza is a terrorist stronghold again after an Israeli withdrawl.
2. Egypt is actively or tacitly aiding the effort of terrorists.
3. The situation in Lebanon is becoming the same or worse as before the last conflict.
4. French forces are enabling a Hizb'Allah buildup in Lebanon.

It is important to see what is happening to the Israelis now, because THAT will happen to the US, if we continue our trend.

I hope that the Israelis throw out Olmert and Co soon, or the IDF does, or Israel will disappear. Ultimately, it is up to the Israelis to decide their fate. This is not Lucy, Charlie Brown, and the football any more. It is for keeps.

Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-11-20 11:16

#1 dhimmi carter is not going to be happy about this. If the Israeli's had even an ounce of decency and common sense they'd follow carter's demonstrated success at pacifying aggressors.

Here's the formula. 1) Pay them off. 2) Admit America's or Israel's total and complete responsibility for the hostilities. 3) If at all possible place American or Israeli interests in jeopardy or outright danger. 4) Make advanced reservations to accept nobel peace prize.

Posted by: Lanny Ddub 2006-11-20 09:18

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