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| Middle East | |
| All Out War | |
| 2003-06-12 | |
| Via Islam On Line - Israel and the radical Palestinian group Hamas declared all-out war on each other today, promising more bloodshed after a Jerusalem bus bombing and retaliatory strikes on Gaza plunged the conflict into one of its most violent phases. The deadly exchange yesterday left 27 people dead and shattered hopes for implementing the US-sponsored peace plan that was launched last week at a summit in Aqaba, Jordan, convened by US President George W Bush. Israeli radio said the army had been ordered to "completely wipe out" Hamas, which claimed responsibility for the suicide bomber who killed 16 other people on a bus in central Jerusalem. The order was given after Israeli defence minister Shaul Mofaz met his generals, the radio said. It said everyone "from the lowliest member to Sheikh Ahmad Yassin", a Hamas founder and its spiritual guide, was a target. 'bout time Two days after the army tried and failed to assassinate the group's top political leader Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi, Hamas was undeterred and returned Israel's declaration of war. As Gaza prepared to bury 10 Palestinians killed in helicopter strikes on Hamas militants, members of the group's armed wing toured the city calling on the population to attend the funerals and promising bloody revenge. "We will strike with martyrdom operations as soon as possible," shouted members of the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades.
With the international peace "road map" moribund, despite unprecedented condemnations of the violence and ceasefire calls by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas, Washington looked like the only force capable of stopping the rot. Bush harshly condemned the bus bombing in Jerusalem, but he sparked an uproar in Congress with a milder scolding of Sharon over the timing of the strike on Rantissi. Sharon declared last night after the bus bombing on Jaffa street that he would "continue to fight relentlessly against terrorism", but insisted that the strikes were not a breach of the road map. "We are going to continue the political process to ensure peace and security," he added. The Israeli cabinet was due to meet today to consider how to respond to the Jerusalem bombing. "It is Israel's duty to respond following the horrific attack in Jerusalem, but we have to avoid antagonising the Americans; we have to react in an intelligent way," justice minister Tommy Lapid said. Arafat went live on Palestinian television to call for a ceasefire. "I call on all Palestinian factions to stop all military operations and shooting attacks against Israelis," he said, describing the Jerusalem bombing as a "terrorist act". After the strike on Rantissi, Hamas announced that truce talks were not on the agenda and appeared determined to step up suicide bombings. The wounded leader himself vowed "not to leave one Jew in Palestine". FoxNews says there were 4 more IDF strikes in Gaza this AM, sounds like they've been saving intel for just a sweep like this. Hope they hit the right people | |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #14 To MHW : How does Israel deal with terrorists operating among innocents (and remember there are many Israeli agents and many non violent people among the Arabs of Gaza and the West Bank Frankly, this is a real problem. If we stoop to their level and carpet bomb Gaza, we're no better than them. On the other hand, to judge from the way things are developing right now, I realy wonder whether we have not reached a situation in which it may be a good idea to kill 2-3K Pali's in order to avoid the future dying of tens of thousands of Pali's and Israeli's if we just let things escalate slowly. |
| Posted by: The Dodo 2003-06-12 17:02:07 |
| #13 Does anyone think that Hamas is shooting its wad and going for broke. We are seeing the power struggle between any moderates left and the Jihad Boys. This situation will not and cannot stay like it is. Hamas is either in or its gone. Only they just got a little whoop-ass back at them. If they are pursued now and taken down, maybe just maybe some resolution of the Paleo/Israeli conflict can be had. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-06-12 16:44:27 |
| #12 Hamas announced that truce talks were not on the agenda and appeared determined to step up suicide bombings. The wounded leader himself vowed "not to leave one Jew in Palestine" Has anyone asked Abu Mazen if he'd care to reconsider his comment regarding Hamas? you know, the one that went, "there is no substitute for dialogue." He's right of course, but dialogue requires that both parties are capable of speaking the same language. The only language the subhuman Ham-ass-ers seem to speak is violence. Let the talks begin, yeah? |
| Posted by: Dripping Sarcasm 2003-06-12 16:08:47 |
| #11 Lying to the Infidels for tactical advantage is SOP in Muslim society, it's even considered a religous duty by some of the more whacked-out. So why the hell should we believe ANY of their promises? Seek them out, and kill all you find. The ones that run away get to live. Praise Allah. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-06-12 15:45:30 |
| #10 To Dodo: I'm sure President Bush recognizes HAMAS for what it is. One problem is, at least through this week, the President believed in the assurances of the Arab leaders, Dept of State, etc. about their ability to put a lid on the terrorists. If the President can see past this nonsense, however, we reach a new problem. How does Israel deal with terrorists operating among innocents (and remember there are many Israeli agents and many non violent people among the Arabs of Gaza and the West Bank). |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-06-12 15:24:03 |
| #9 I am an Israely. I used to vote for the Labor party and support the Oslo agreement and the "peace process". NO MORE!!!!!!!!!! I voted for Sharon this time! I'm shocked and dissapointed by the blindness of president Bush. He does not truely understand the treachery and cunning of the fanatic islamists. They take what he gives and continue the terror. I think we are clearly headed for a bloody confrontation. The Israely citizens are getting tired of being slaughtered in the streets. What the fucking Hamas dont realize is that instead of despairing and giving up, we israelis will eventually unite and finally give them a taste of hell. I dont know if we have air/fuel bombs but I'm now convinced that a large scale military action with thousands of dead Pali's may be the only way to bring them to their knees and stop the farce. It's a shame but it's most probably unavoidable now. |
| Posted by: The Dodo 2003-06-12 13:34:13 |
| #8 Time to do a deep housecleaning, and send all the non-Israeli Arabs packing. Push them into the Sinai, into Lebanon, into Syria or Jordan, or into the Med. Do not leave one person behind. Make them dig up their dead and carry them out, too. Forcing the Arabs to accept what they intend for Israel will go a long way toward ending the mess in the Middle East. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-06-12 13:17:10 |
| #7 "not to leave one Jew in palistine" Yup sounds like "land for peace" is really gonna work with these people. I wonder if the Israelis have any fuel air bombs in the inventory. Maybe it's time too let the parties involved settle this once and for all with out interference from the outside. Sure it will be bloody but will it be any worse than letting this go on for another 50 years at the minimum |
| Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire 2003-06-12 12:44:17 |
| #6 This type of action has been coming for a long time. The Israelis (or US) aught to do the same type of psy-ops they did in Iraq to get those who don't sympathize away from the targets. (or even assist with the targeting) Yasser called Jeru a terrorist act, did he? Day late and a dollar short. It shouldn't save him. |
| Posted by: Scott 2003-06-12 12:40:05 |
| #5 Yassin's basically doing the human shield thing. Palestinians have gotten used to the idea that being in close proximity to a senior terrorist leader presents no threat to life or limb. It's time the Israelis disabused them of that notion. At the very least, we know that those who are near the terrorist leadership are their supporters, whereas the Israelis, foreign workers and tourists who are victims of suicide bombers just happened to be there. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-06-12 12:33:24 |
| #4 Yassin's whereabout are pretty well known. However, he is constantly surrounded by many, many people. Thus the collateral effects of taking him out are pretty big. |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-06-12 12:27:04 |
| #3 Hamas sez (borrowing a line from the movie "Stand by Me") "What are ya gonna do, shoot us all?" Israel sez to Hamas "No Ace, just you." |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-06-12 10:02:41 |
| #2 Yassin's basically doing the human shield thing. Palestinians have gotten used to the idea that being in close proximity to a senior terrorist leader presents no threat to life or limb. It's time the Israelis disabused them of that notion. At the very least, we know that those who are near the terrorist leadership are their supporters, whereas the Israelis, foreign workers and tourists who are victims of suicide bombers just happened to be there. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 6/12/2003 12:33:24 PM |
| #1 Hamas sez (borrowing a line from the movie "Stand by Me") "What are ya gonna do, shoot us all?" Israel sez to Hamas "No Ace, just you." |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 6/12/2003 10:02:41 AM |