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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel steps up threats to invade Gazoo
2007-10-31
JERUSALEM - Israel escalated its threats on Tuesday to invade the Hamas-run Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket fire after a plan to impose economic sanctions drew objections from legal experts and foreign powers.
At some point it's time to stop talking and start thumping ...
Since quitting Gaza in 2005, Israel has mounted regular commando raids and air strikes on rocket crews but the salvoes have not ceased. Islamist Hamas’s takeover of the territory in June stoked calls in the Jewish state for a big military sweep. “Every passing day brings us closer to a broad operation in Gaza,” Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told reporters. “We are not looking forward to it (and) we would be happy if circumstances prevented it.”

Israel, which controls official Gazan border crossings, began reducing the amount of fuel pumped to Gaza this week. It also wants to reduce power supplies but has put that on hold. The sanctions, which were put together by Barak, prompted UN and EU delegates to urge Israel not to impose “collective punishment”, illegal under international law, on Gaza’s 1.5 million residents.
Because one or two of them might be innocent ... maybe ...
Weighed against an invasion of Gaza is Israeli Prime Minister Ehud OlmertÂ’s upcoming peace conference with Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas under US auspices. While Olmert may want calm, he is also under pressure from right-wing coalition partners to hit Hamas hard.

“The present situation will not last,” Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon, a close Olmert confidant, told Reuters when asked during an interview about a possible Gaza invasion. ”I prefer that we use sanctions. I believe that the implementation of sanctions will be effective. But we have our doubts about it,” he said, but added: “If they (Hamas) stop sending rockets over, our need for the weapons of sanctions, or other weapons, will not be an issue.”
Posted by:Steve White

#9  So it is hunky dory with International Law™ to allow Hamas to lob rockets into Sderot? This is a game for overpaid fools.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2007-10-31 12:56  

#8  I fail to see how refusing to supply fuel and power to a warring enclave constitutes punishment collective or otherwise.

The existing framework of international 'law' does not have a category for terrorism that is systemic and sponsored by state powers. Therefore it does not recognize the existential threat posed to Israel by Hamas-led and sponsored attacks, nor by its stated policies.

So technically speaking, shutting off fuel and power arguably is a collective punishment issue.

Not sayin' it makes SENSE, mind you - just that the status quo WRT international agreements can be read that way. They need changing, fast - but the will and agreement isn't there to do so in any productive way IMO.
Posted by: lotp   2007-10-31 12:39  

#7  I don't like this idea of "invading". It seems that Isreal may be succesful, but in the end it would end up being pointless when they hide. Far more effective would be a general bombardment with artillary on area's known to support Hamas STRONGLY. As in where they live. And government offices. And 'accidently' mosques.
Posted by: Charles   2007-10-31 10:36  

#6  If you "invade" Gaza again, never give it up again. That belongs to Israel.
Posted by: newc   2007-10-31 10:24  

#5  We have been overcome by a catastrophic stupidity and a deliberate inversion of all decency and morality.

Yup, Excal. It's as if the criminal justice system's penchant for treating criminals better than victims has somehow infected the military mind. Islam's middle name is "collective punishment", but woe betide us should we dare to consider saucing goose and gander alike. At some point, the West must realize that Muslims interpret our humanitarian restraint as a reward for their indecency. In no way have the Palestinians abandoned one whit of their terrorist activities. Yet, we must endure the hideous spectacle of Bush seeking to gift them with another $400,000,000 despite their continued violation of all agreements and absolutely ZERO progress towards peace. Welcome to the kaliyuga.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-10-31 10:24  

#4  The sanctions, which were put together by Barak, prompted UN and EU delegates to urge Israel not to impose “collective punishment”, illegal under international law, on GazaÂ’s 1.5 million residents.

I fail to see how refusing to supply fuel and power to a warring enclave constitutes punishment collective or otherwise. We have been overcome by a catastrophic stupidity and a deliberate inversion of all decency and morality. One thing you can say for the arabs: At least they know how to treat the enemy.
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-10-31 09:42  

#3  A tradition 3dc. Sacrificing IDF soldiers to Liberals Home and abroad is a long-time Israeli tradition.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2007-10-31 08:37  

#2  So they don't have the balls to turn off the water and power but will send their son's in to risk their life?

Sorry, I don't get it!
Posted by: 3dc   2007-10-31 00:52  

#1  See also STRATEGYPAGE > THE COLLECTIVE THREAT. Synopsis of Israel's probs wid HAMAS in Gaza.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-10-31 00:08  

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