Hamas Provokes Israeli Crackdown, Again

Leader · 09-25-2005, 01:22 AM

Looks like Hamas is itching to get its ass kicked for the millionth time

Israelis hit back at Hamas in Gaza

By Ibrahim Barzak
ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 25, 2005

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israel launched a "crushing" retaliation yesterday against Hamas in Gaza with deadly air strikes and troops massed for a ground incursion after the militant group fired 35 rockets at Israeli towns -- its first major attack since the Gaza pullout.

The escalation threatened to derail a shaky, seven-month truce and quashed hopes that Israel's ceding the coastal strip to the Palestinians would invigorate peacemaking.

Israel's reprisals drew fresh Hamas threats of vengeance. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas came under growing Israeli pressure to confront the militants.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told security chiefs in a meeting that "the ground of Gaza should shake" and that he wanted to exact a high price from Palestinians everywhere, not just Hamas. He promised a "crushing" response, including air strikes, targeted killings and arrest raids, participants said afterward.

Later, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Security Cabinet authorized a Gaza ground incursion that would begin today, with artillery fire from the border, and grow in intensity until troops enter the Gaza Strip later in the week.

Minutes after the measures were approved, an explosion rocked the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli aircraft struck three suspected weapons-storage facilities in Gaza and a school in a crowded Gaza City neighborhood late yesterday and early today, wounding 17, Palestinian officials said.

Earlier yesterday, Israeli aircraft fired five missiles at two cars carrying Hamas militants in Gaza City, killing at least two, officials said.

The strikes meant Israel has resumed targeted killings of Palestinian militants, a practice suspended during the truce. During more than four years of fighting, Israel has killed scores of militants and bystanders in such attacks.

Hamas identified the dead as Nafez Abu Hussein and Rwad Farhad, local field commanders. Several hundred gunmen, some firing into the air, joined a funeral procession for Farhad, who was 17.

Israel also sealed the West Bank and Gaza, barring thousands of Palestinians from reaching jobs in the Jewish state.

The crisis erupted amid a major challenge to Mr. Sharon's leadership in his hard-line Likud Party and could strengthen the hand of his main rival, Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned the Gaza pullout endangered Israel.

A Likud vote tomorrow could determine whether Mr. Sharon quits the party -- a move that likely would bring early elections and prompt him to form a new centrist party to capture mainstream voters.

The heightened violence followed a chain of events starting Friday with an explosion at a Hamas rally in Gaza's Jebaliya refugee camp. At least 15 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded.

Hamas blamed Israel, claiming it fired missiles into the crowd, and said its rocket attacks were in retaliation. Israel denied involvement, and the Palestinian Authority said Islamist militants apparently caused the blast themselves by mishandling explosives.

A senior Palestinian security official confirmed yesterday that friction caused a rocket-propelled grenade in a truck to explode, which then ignited about 10 other grenades. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

In a speech yesterday, Mr. Abbas also blamed Hamas and renewed demands that armed groups stop flaunting weapons in public.

"We are required more than ever before to end this frequent tragedy that resulted from chaos and military parades in residential areas," he said.

Islamist militants took center stage in Gaza after Israel's withdrawal, holding military-style victory parades. Many Palestinians endorsed the militants' claim that they drove Israel out by force.

The latest bloodshed appeared to put Hamas on the defensive.

The group called Mr. Abbas' position "a stab in the back of the martyrs" and a blow to efforts to work out differences among militant factions.

Mr. Abbas has tried to co-opt Hamas, mainly through the lure of parliament elections. He has rejected calls by Israel and the international community to confront and disarm militants.

Under an informal agreement between Mr. Abbas and the militants, a ban on displaying weapons was to take effect later yesterday. It was not clear whether Hamas would honor the deal after the Israeli strikes.

http://insider.washingtontimes.com/a...5-124042-2123r

Ray · 09-26-2005, 09:15 AM

I saw it on BBC.

The Arab spokesman said that the ceasefire by Hamas and others would hold.

Amen.

**ZFBoxcar** · 09-26-2005, 14:21 PM

It will hold now because Israel has scared the crap out of Hamas. They thought they could launch rockets with impunity just because Israel left Gaza, they have been shown this is not the case. Even better, Israel managed to show them this without inflicting any civillian casualties...although Hamas did kill civillians when their weapons exploded

Ray · 09-26-2005, 15:46 PM

Whatever way it is done, there should be peace.

Things are moving towards Peace and all should contribute to it and not derail the same.

I am worried about the Netanyahu challenge. It appears that he will win the leadership. Then, who knows what will happen.

The Palestinian Authority must show greater control over all the factions and they should not be allowed to embark on any wild adventures or else it will be kaput for them.

**ZFBoxcar** · 09-26-2005, 18:30 PM

No worries Ray...

Sharon fends off leadership poll

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has narrowly defeated a move to challenge his leadership of the Likud party by holding an early election in November.

The motion to bring forward the poll from April 2006, demanded by his rival Binyamin Netanyahu, was defeated in the 3,000-strong Likud Central Committee.

The vote was seen as a referendum on Mr Sharon's leadership after the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Mr Netanyahu accuses Mr Sharon of handing over Gaza to militant groups.

Popular politician

Likud members voted 1,433 to 1,329 against the proposal - a majority of 104.

The decision means the leadership challenge will be held on schedule next spring, as Mr Sharon wanted.

Many in the Likud party see the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip as a reward for Palestinian violence - and they have tried to get rid of Mr Sharon, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Tel Aviv.

But he adds that others believe that the pullout will make Israel safer in the long run, and now the party has made up its mind for the time being.

They realise that Mr Sharon is an incredibly popular leader among ordinary Israelis and their best chance to win a general election next year, our correspondent says.

Mr Sharon may also have been buoyed by a recent declaration from militant group Hamas, which said it would end rocket strikes into Israel and pledged to stick to the terms of an informal March ceasefire.

Mr Netanyahu acknowledged the defeat and vowed to press on with his bid.

"We lost by a very few votes. There is a very large camp that went against the flow, against the wind, against the pressure, against the leadership and against the temptations," he said.

Microphone cut

On Sunday, both men attended a meeting about the leadership at the party conference in Tel Aviv.

Mr Sharon stepped on to the stage to address the stormy meeting, but walked out after discovering that his microphone cord had been severed.

Reports say his opponents had deliberately cut the power cable.

Israeli newspapers of all political hues criticised the incident, with some concluding that it was severely damaging to the party.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4281486.stm

Commando · 09-26-2005, 20:01 PM

Peace is there. But if peace is to succeed the Palestinians are gonna have to be more strict with militants. Well done Israel!!!

Ray · 09-27-2005, 00:15 AM

Ira,

When I saw the Likud Convention on TV and heard Netanyahu's speech, I thought he will win.

More so, since Sharon looked tired, worried and was cutting a real sorry figure.

Good that Sharon won.

Now, it is up to the Palestinians to make it work.

bull · 09-27-2005, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

Ira,

When I saw the Likud Convention on TV and heard Netanyahu's speech, I thought he will win.

More so, since Sharon looked tired, worried and was cutting a real sorry figure.

Good that Sharon won.

Now, it is up to the Palestinians to make it work.

Hamas is too strong and enjoy a very good backing among the youth.the PLA wud find it hard to rein in hamas.The only way hamas can be "defeated" is by letting them participate in the upcoming elections and have a few or more rep.This wud definitly put pressure on hamas to think twice before they do anything stupid.

Isreal needs to fall back on their demand that hamas shud be not allowed to contest.

Leader · 09-27-2005, 02:13 AM

"This wud definitly put pressure on hamas to think twice before they do anything stupid."

Could you explain why you believe that to be the case?

bull · 09-27-2005, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leader

"This wud definitly put pressure on hamas to think twice before they do anything stupid."

Could you explain why you believe that to be the case?

Money and power which they get thru politics is more powerfull than the guns they carry.There wud be a politcs vs gun debate and those who have chance of running elections wud definitly try to weaken the military arm.

Commando · 09-27-2005, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bull

Money and power which they get thru politics is more powerfull than the guns they carry.There wud be a politcs vs gun debate and those who have chance of running elections wud definitly try to weaken the military arm.

I think we should rephrase that. Hamas is a terrorist group that have killed civillians for years. You think they deserve to be in politics where there is more power for them to be sought. Their views will not change. They should not be allowed to participate in the election and everyone involved should be executed let alone speak for Palestine. The reason why Hamas is running wild is because Palestine is not acting to arrest the militants. If they do Hamas is week and could be easily erradicated if the PLA had the commitment to do it.

**Officer of Engineers** · 09-27-2005, 02:40 AM

Hamas was created by the Israelis to fight the PLO in a Palestinian Civil War.

bull · 09-27-2005, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commando

I think we should rephrase that. Hamas is a terrorist group that have killed civillians for years. You think they deserve to be in politics where there is more power for them to be sought. Their views will not change. They should not be allowed to participate in the election and everyone involved should be executed let alone speak for Palestine. The reason why Hamas is running wild is because Palestine is not acting to arrest the militants. If they do Hamas is week and could be easily erradicated if the PLA had the commitment to do it.

I think PLA is weak and doesnt have the support of the youth,who favours the firey hamas.
Let them taste powerand then the guns shall fall silent

09-25-2005, 01:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Leader Ubi dubium ibi libertas *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 09-04-03 Location: Boston, MA, USPRA Posts: 5,124	Hamas Provokes Israeli Crackdown, Again Looks like Hamas is itching to get its ass kicked for the millionth time Israelis hit back at Hamas in Gaza By Ibrahim Barzak ASSOCIATED PRESS September 25, 2005 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israel launched a "crushing" retaliation yesterday against Hamas in Gaza with deadly air strikes and troops massed for a ground incursion after the militant group fired 35 rockets at Israeli towns -- its first major attack since the Gaza pullout. The escalation threatened to derail a shaky, seven-month truce and quashed hopes that Israel's ceding the coastal strip to the Palestinians would invigorate peacemaking. Israel's reprisals drew fresh Hamas threats of vengeance. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas came under growing Israeli pressure to confront the militants. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told security chiefs in a meeting that "the ground of Gaza should shake" and that he wanted to exact a high price from Palestinians everywhere, not just Hamas. He promised a "crushing" response, including air strikes, targeted killings and arrest raids, participants said afterward. Later, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Security Cabinet authorized a Gaza ground incursion that would begin today, with artillery fire from the border, and grow in intensity until troops enter the Gaza Strip later in the week. Minutes after the measures were approved, an explosion rocked the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli aircraft struck three suspected weapons-storage facilities in Gaza and a school in a crowded Gaza City neighborhood late yesterday and early today, wounding 17, Palestinian officials said. Earlier yesterday, Israeli aircraft fired five missiles at two cars carrying Hamas militants in Gaza City, killing at least two, officials said. The strikes meant Israel has resumed targeted killings of Palestinian militants, a practice suspended during the truce. During more than four years of fighting, Israel has killed scores of militants and bystanders in such attacks. Hamas identified the dead as Nafez Abu Hussein and Rwad Farhad, local field commanders. Several hundred gunmen, some firing into the air, joined a funeral procession for Farhad, who was 17. Israel also sealed the West Bank and Gaza, barring thousands of Palestinians from reaching jobs in the Jewish state. The crisis erupted amid a major challenge to Mr. Sharon's leadership in his hard-line Likud Party and could strengthen the hand of his main rival, Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned the Gaza pullout endangered Israel. A Likud vote tomorrow could determine whether Mr. Sharon quits the party -- a move that likely would bring early elections and prompt him to form a new centrist party to capture mainstream voters. The heightened violence followed a chain of events starting Friday with an explosion at a Hamas rally in Gaza's Jebaliya refugee camp. At least 15 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded. Hamas blamed Israel, claiming it fired missiles into the crowd, and said its rocket attacks were in retaliation. Israel denied involvement, and the Palestinian Authority said Islamist militants apparently caused the blast themselves by mishandling explosives. A senior Palestinian security official confirmed yesterday that friction caused a rocket-propelled grenade in a truck to explode, which then ignited about 10 other grenades. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation. In a speech yesterday, Mr. Abbas also blamed Hamas and renewed demands that armed groups stop flaunting weapons in public. "We are required more than ever before to end this frequent tragedy that resulted from chaos and military parades in residential areas," he said. Islamist militants took center stage in Gaza after Israel's withdrawal, holding military-style victory parades. Many Palestinians endorsed the militants' claim that they drove Israel out by force. The latest bloodshed appeared to put Hamas on the defensive. The group called Mr. Abbas' position "a stab in the back of the martyrs" and a blow to efforts to work out differences among militant factions. Mr. Abbas has tried to co-opt Hamas, mainly through the lure of parliament elections. He has rejected calls by Israel and the international community to confront and disarm militants. Under an informal agreement between Mr. Abbas and the militants, a ban on displaying weapons was to take effect later yesterday. It was not clear whether Hamas would honor the deal after the Israeli strikes. http://insider.washingtontimes.com/a...5-124042-2123r __________________ "Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have." "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" NEVER FORGET

09-26-2005, 18:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
ZFBoxcar Moderator Join Date: 08-03-03 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 2,129 Country:	No worries Ray... Sharon fends off leadership poll Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has narrowly defeated a move to challenge his leadership of the Likud party by holding an early election in November. The motion to bring forward the poll from April 2006, demanded by his rival Binyamin Netanyahu, was defeated in the 3,000-strong Likud Central Committee. The vote was seen as a referendum on Mr Sharon's leadership after the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Mr Netanyahu accuses Mr Sharon of handing over Gaza to militant groups. Popular politician Likud members voted 1,433 to 1,329 against the proposal - a majority of 104. The decision means the leadership challenge will be held on schedule next spring, as Mr Sharon wanted. Many in the Likud party see the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip as a reward for Palestinian violence - and they have tried to get rid of Mr Sharon, says the BBC's James Reynolds in Tel Aviv. But he adds that others believe that the pullout will make Israel safer in the long run, and now the party has made up its mind for the time being. They realise that Mr Sharon is an incredibly popular leader among ordinary Israelis and their best chance to win a general election next year, our correspondent says. Mr Sharon may also have been buoyed by a recent declaration from militant group Hamas, which said it would end rocket strikes into Israel and pledged to stick to the terms of an informal March ceasefire. Mr Netanyahu acknowledged the defeat and vowed to press on with his bid. "We lost by a very few votes. There is a very large camp that went against the flow, against the wind, against the pressure, against the leadership and against the temptations," he said. Microphone cut On Sunday, both men attended a meeting about the leadership at the party conference in Tel Aviv. Mr Sharon stepped on to the stage to address the stormy meeting, but walked out after discovering that his microphone cord had been severed. Reports say his opponents had deliberately cut the power cable. Israeli newspapers of all political hues criticised the incident, with some concluding that it was severely damaging to the party. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4281486.stm Last edited by ZFBoxcar : 09-26-2005 at 18:36 PM.

09-27-2005, 02:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
Officer of Engineers *Military Professional* Moderator Scotch taster Join Date: 08-06-03 Posts: 16,650 Country:	Hamas was created by the Israelis to fight the PLO in a Palestinian Civil War. __________________ Chimo

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09-26-2005, 09:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ray Postmaster General *Military Professional* Join Date: 08-20-03 Posts: 27,232 Country:	I saw it on BBC. The Arab spokesman said that the ceasefire by Hamas and others would hold. Amen.

09-26-2005, 14:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
ZFBoxcar Moderator Join Date: 08-03-03 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 2,129 Country:	It will hold now because Israel has scared the crap out of Hamas. They thought they could launch rockets with impunity just because Israel left Gaza, they have been shown this is not the case. Even better, Israel managed to show them this without inflicting any civillian casualties...although Hamas did kill civillians when their weapons exploded

09-26-2005, 15:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ray Postmaster General *Military Professional* Join Date: 08-20-03 Posts: 27,232 Country:	Whatever way it is done, there should be peace. Things are moving towards Peace and all should contribute to it and not derail the same. I am worried about the Netanyahu challenge. It appears that he will win the leadership. Then, who knows what will happen. The Palestinian Authority must show greater control over all the factions and they should not be allowed to embark on any wild adventures or else it will be kaput for them.

09-26-2005, 20:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Commando Contributor Join Date: 01-01-05 Posts: 412 Country:	Peace is there. But if peace is to succeed the Palestinians are gonna have to be more strict with militants. Well done Israel!!!

09-27-2005, 00:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ray Postmaster General *Military Professional* Join Date: 08-20-03 Posts: 27,232 Country:	Ira, When I saw the Likud Convention on TV and heard Netanyahu's speech, I thought he will win. More so, since Sharon looked tired, worried and was cutting a real sorry figure. Good that Sharon won. Now, it is up to the Palestinians to make it work.

09-27-2005, 02:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Leader Ubi dubium ibi libertas *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 09-04-03 Location: Boston, MA, USPRA Posts: 5,124	"This wud definitly put pressure on hamas to think twice before they do anything stupid." Could you explain why you believe that to be the case?

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