More Fighting in Gaza
NCfan
Posts: 945
Don't really understand why the Palestinians fire rockets into Israel and then get upset when the Israeli's fire back.... I mean why would you luanch rockets into Israel in the first place, isn't that like pissing in the wind? Oh yeah, maybe it's becuase the ruling political party denies Israel this right to exist.
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Israel launched another round of airstrikes against a militant target in Gaza early Friday -- a day after the Israeli military began targeting Hamas in retaliation for dozens of Qassam rockets fired from Gaza into Israel over the last five days, the Israel Defense Forces said.
According to Palestinian medical and security sources, the Israeli strikes on Thursday and Friday killed at least 11 Palestinians.
The cross-border attacks came as skirmishes between rival Palestinian militias within Gaza entered a sixth straight day.
The airstrikes have angered Palestinian officials, who accused the Israelis of taking advantage of violence between the Hamas and Fatah factions, which continued Thursday despite a fourth attempt at a cease-fire Wednesday evening.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustapha Barghouti said Palestinians were "very angry" that the "Israelis (were) trying to take advantage of internal fighting."
"Israel has decided to escalate this and this could lead to disaster ... we have no peace partner," he added.
In a visit to the town of Sderot, near the Gaza border, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to keep pressure on the militants firing the rockets.
"I am dealing with this crisis in order to remove the danger from you as much as possible," Olmert said Thursday evening. "The government will do everything that is right for you and for the security of the State of Israel." (Watch Israelis leave on buses after attack )
Among Friday's airstrikes was an attack on a Hamas structure protecting some sort of tunnel, the IDF said.
In Thursday's airstrikes, the Israelis said they targeted the compound of Hamas' executive force -- the movement's elite military wing -- in Gaza City; a car allegedly carrying Hamas operatives with weapons, also in Gaza City; a Hamas post in northern Gaza City; and a Hamas post in Rafah near the border with Egypt. (Watch Palestinian guards control traffic on a busy Gaza City street )
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Hamas brought the airstrikes upon itself.
"A message should be conveyed to the Palestinians whereby terror has a price: The Palestinian government is the one responsible for the aggressive actions, it bears responsibility and they choose not to control it," she said.
At least eight Qassam rockets fell in the Sderot area Friday morning, lightly injuring one person, Israeli authorities said. In the previous 24 hours, Qassam rockets hit a Sderot synagogue and a school. No serious injuries were reported, according to the IDF.
Since the start of the week, more than 100 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel, according to the Israeli military.
An official from the Izzedine Al Qassam brigades, Hamas' military wing, said it's the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against "Israeli crimes" in any way they see fit, threatening possible suicide attacks.
An Israeli security source said Israeli forces have "more strategic targets" they can hit.
"We want to show the terrorists we know where they are," the source said.
In addition, the Israel Defense Forces said it sent an additional small force of tanks to join the force already in place near the border of Gaza, and a very limited Israeli force was inside Gaza near the northern section of the border.
Meanwhile, the internal Palestinian violence flared again Friday when witnesses reported seeing the Fatah-affiliated Presidential Guard firing rockets at Islamic University -- considered a Hamas stronghold.
The clashes between Hamas and Fatah have killed more than 40 people since Sunday.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday to get their views on the latest violence, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
"We want to see a reduction in the violence and restraint on both sides," McCormack said.
"We understand the Israeli government has a right to defend itself," he said. But, McCormack added, "We have also urged them to consider the consequences of their actions in defending themselves on Palestinian infrastructure, as well as on what effect it might have on the prospects for moving forward the political process."
The Palestinian government is struggling to quell the latest round of fighting, which has highlighted the weaknesses of the Hamas-Fatah unity government formed earlier this year. Abbas canceled a planned trip to Gaza on Thursday because of the violence, his office said.
Hamas came to power in parliamentary elections in January 2006 after Fatah's longtime rule over the Palestinian Authority. But the United States and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist organization, and the European Union joined them in cutting off aid over the group's refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist.
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Israel launched another round of airstrikes against a militant target in Gaza early Friday -- a day after the Israeli military began targeting Hamas in retaliation for dozens of Qassam rockets fired from Gaza into Israel over the last five days, the Israel Defense Forces said.
According to Palestinian medical and security sources, the Israeli strikes on Thursday and Friday killed at least 11 Palestinians.
The cross-border attacks came as skirmishes between rival Palestinian militias within Gaza entered a sixth straight day.
The airstrikes have angered Palestinian officials, who accused the Israelis of taking advantage of violence between the Hamas and Fatah factions, which continued Thursday despite a fourth attempt at a cease-fire Wednesday evening.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustapha Barghouti said Palestinians were "very angry" that the "Israelis (were) trying to take advantage of internal fighting."
"Israel has decided to escalate this and this could lead to disaster ... we have no peace partner," he added.
In a visit to the town of Sderot, near the Gaza border, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to keep pressure on the militants firing the rockets.
"I am dealing with this crisis in order to remove the danger from you as much as possible," Olmert said Thursday evening. "The government will do everything that is right for you and for the security of the State of Israel." (Watch Israelis leave on buses after attack )
Among Friday's airstrikes was an attack on a Hamas structure protecting some sort of tunnel, the IDF said.
In Thursday's airstrikes, the Israelis said they targeted the compound of Hamas' executive force -- the movement's elite military wing -- in Gaza City; a car allegedly carrying Hamas operatives with weapons, also in Gaza City; a Hamas post in northern Gaza City; and a Hamas post in Rafah near the border with Egypt. (Watch Palestinian guards control traffic on a busy Gaza City street )
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Hamas brought the airstrikes upon itself.
"A message should be conveyed to the Palestinians whereby terror has a price: The Palestinian government is the one responsible for the aggressive actions, it bears responsibility and they choose not to control it," she said.
At least eight Qassam rockets fell in the Sderot area Friday morning, lightly injuring one person, Israeli authorities said. In the previous 24 hours, Qassam rockets hit a Sderot synagogue and a school. No serious injuries were reported, according to the IDF.
Since the start of the week, more than 100 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel, according to the Israeli military.
An official from the Izzedine Al Qassam brigades, Hamas' military wing, said it's the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against "Israeli crimes" in any way they see fit, threatening possible suicide attacks.
An Israeli security source said Israeli forces have "more strategic targets" they can hit.
"We want to show the terrorists we know where they are," the source said.
In addition, the Israel Defense Forces said it sent an additional small force of tanks to join the force already in place near the border of Gaza, and a very limited Israeli force was inside Gaza near the northern section of the border.
Meanwhile, the internal Palestinian violence flared again Friday when witnesses reported seeing the Fatah-affiliated Presidential Guard firing rockets at Islamic University -- considered a Hamas stronghold.
The clashes between Hamas and Fatah have killed more than 40 people since Sunday.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday to get their views on the latest violence, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
"We want to see a reduction in the violence and restraint on both sides," McCormack said.
"We understand the Israeli government has a right to defend itself," he said. But, McCormack added, "We have also urged them to consider the consequences of their actions in defending themselves on Palestinian infrastructure, as well as on what effect it might have on the prospects for moving forward the political process."
The Palestinian government is struggling to quell the latest round of fighting, which has highlighted the weaknesses of the Hamas-Fatah unity government formed earlier this year. Abbas canceled a planned trip to Gaza on Thursday because of the violence, his office said.
Hamas came to power in parliamentary elections in January 2006 after Fatah's longtime rule over the Palestinian Authority. But the United States and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist organization, and the European Union joined them in cutting off aid over the group's refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist.
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Comments
That political party was put in power after democratic elections. Poverty and lack of prospects lead to extremism, it's not the first example we see. I honestly believe palestinians would rather live peaceful, safe, prosperous lives then this unending circle of violence. There are two ways to achieve this : let the violence resolve itself with the victory of one side or try and fight the poverty and desesperation in the region.
You make a great point. I also believe that the majority of Palestinians, and Israelies as well, just want to live their lives in peace. Unfortunetly the Fatah party in Palestine was unable to provide for it's people. It was seen as weak and ineffective. In comes Hamas and they are seen as a viable options, a bad option I should mention. I don't condone the violence but the Palestinians where, and still are, in a desperate state when they elected Hamas to power. Secondly the hard line Lukid party in Israel did not help the situation any either. Instead of aiding the Fatah government in rooting out extremist it simply took matters into it's own hands which just made Fatah more inept in the eyes of the Palestinians.
I think you bring up good points. I would say one of the biggest problems here is that in order for someone to rise to power in Palestinian society, it is a prerequisite that they have it out for Israel. Seriously, if some young leader tried to lead his country towards reconciliation with Israel, he would be taken out by Hamas or some other organization whose very existence is dependant on constant struggle with Isreal.
I mean what would Hamas be without a hatred of Isreal? Palestinians need to reform their own politics and make room for something other than blind hatred towards Israel. There isn't much the rest of the world can do to help them until they try to help themselves.
Like all radical and religious parties they wouldn't have any power. If the people weren't blinded by the situation they would see the manipulation thought by the religious leaders who, god forbid, don't go blow themselves up.
And there are solutions that can be at least tried rather than just staying back and watching. Having Jerusalem as an international city rather than a palestinian of israelian one would help people from both countries to put things in perspective.
unbelievable ... with all the information that is available on this board alone - you think this whole thing boils down to a "blind hatred" for israel??
no wonder - it is what it is over there ...
Well you have summed up the problem. Any leader who wishes to establish peace with Israel has zero chance of reigning in Hamas. At the sametime Israel has to be a little more flexable and realize the dire situation a pro-Israeli government would be in and offer more support. I remember numerous times where Israel would be attacked and if the Fatah did not root out the terrorists Israel would simply launch strikes into Palestinian territory. This would only caus emore collateral damage, causing more hatred for Israel and simultaneuosly weakening the Fatah government. the Israeli government must know that Fatah does not have the ability to root out Hamas on it's own, so by insisting that they do you are only setting them up for failure and assuring that an anti-Israeli faction will gain strength.
That makes good sense to me. You would think that if either side would just quit retaliating at this point in the conflict then sooner or later, the world will side with the peacefull nation.
Who is gonna blame Israel if they just keep taking it and taking while sitting back and restraining themselves to wait for the Palestinian people to work it out. On the other hand, if the Palestinians would quit their strikes, sooner or later people will side with them. Problem is, there are too many in Palestinian society that cannot live with the fact that a Jewish nation has "stolen" their homeland.
It all comes down to religion. Most people sooner or later say fuck it and focus on being happy for the years they walk the earth. But for those who don't have much and live with little hope of opportunity (a la Palestinians) all they have to hang on to is their religion. And unfortunatley too many of them buy into the radical side of it that calls for killing the Jews.
I don't think that Israel should just sit there and take it. I think they should collaberate with Fatah to weed out Hamas and other islamic militants. Instead of firing rockets at a compound to kill a handfull of terrorist, and killing more innocent civilians in the process, they can maybe form a joint task force with Fatah. Prove training, weapons and logistical support so that Fatah will then be equiped and capable of handling the security needs in Palestine and both parties through cooperation on this front will be open to peace.
Who's gonna weed out the israeli militants in the israeli government?
Israel would because it would be in their best interest to do so. If the world sees the Palestinian government doing all it can, including cooperating with Israeli forces in cracking down on militants, Israel would have to reign in their fanatics as well. They would no longer have the same excuses to fall back on.
at the end of the day - what is being done about the illegal occupation and the oppressive conditions by which israel forces many palestinians to live by?
Neither side is doing much to rectify that problem.
It seems that way. but it's not true. years before any suicide bomber was around, Palestine had many peace movements. They lost to the israelis. Israel continues to grab land. why would they do that?
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Palestine obvioulsy needs to sort itself out, it has many internal issues, but it's hard to fix this when the million problems that created these issues still exist. It's like wondering why a stab wound is'nt healing while the blade is still sticking out, you need to first remove it, then the healing process can start.
yeah ... there are fundamental issues that no one wants to talk about ... it's much easier to say that both sides are at fault but we aren't getting anywhere thinking that ...
Very true! While both sides are, indeed, guilty of misconduct and both should stop...both sides are not even close to being equal in the amount of aggression used against the other (who is about as close as it gets to defenseless)
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
More will be accomplished by recognizing that both parties have issues that need to be resolved than by focusing on just one party. All along everyone has been focusing on the Palestinians alone and not much has been done to deal with the issues wsithin the Israeli camp.