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A CEASEFIRE MEANS DEFEAT
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| [Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Even if the rocket fire ends the smuggling will continue full throttle] 6 rockets fired from Gaza Despite ceasefire declared by Israel, Palestinian gunmen resume rocket fire Sunday morning. One Qassam hits Sderot area, another lands near kibbutz Shmulik Hadad Published: 01.18.09, 09:11 / Israel News www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657876,00.html Rocket fire continues despite ceasefire: Palestinian gunmen fired six rockets into Israel on Sunday morning. One of the rockets hit the Sderot area and another landed near a kibbutz. There were no reports of injuries or damage. While Israel's unilateral ceasefire in Gaza went into effect at 2 am Sunday, the security establishment estimated Saturday night that Hamas would continue to fire rockets and mortars toward the country's southern region in the coming days to prove that they "have the "last word in the conflict. Earlier, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told reporters that IDF forces will remain deployed in Gaza. "We are holding our fire, but will remain vigilant," he said, "we've met our military objectives and are now holding our fire, but Hamas may fire at the forces and the home front. The army will remain deployed in Gaza and is prepared to continue and even expand the operation if needed. Israel's citizens must also be prepared." Sources close to Defense Minister Barak said the security establishment is gearing up for possible escalation in Gaza and has drawn up operational plans in case Hamas violates the truce. "We are preparing for the possibility that Hamas didn't get the message and that we'll be forced to resume the offensive and perhaps intensify it," one source said. IDF forces in Gaza have been instructed to only open fire upon sources of rocket fire towards Israeli towns or gunfire directed at them.
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| Sunday, January 18, 2009 |
| Hamas vows to keep fighting Israel |
| Hamas vows to keep fighting Israel Khaled Abu Toameh , THE JERUSALEM POST Jan. 18, 2009 www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232100170713&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull Hamas said on Saturday it will continue to fight despite Israel's decision to unilaterally declare a cease-fire in Gaza. Despite the defiant statements issued by a number of Hamas representatives, sources close to the movement said it would honor the cease-fire. "Hamas needs the lull," the sources said. "They have been hit hard and they have no choice but to comply." Hamas representatives said they would resist any attempt by Israel or other parties to confiscate its weapons. They also warned against allowing forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to the Strip. "We will continue the resistance operations for as long as there is one Zionist soldier in the Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. "We will continue regardless of the price." Fawzi said Hamas's conditions for accepting a cease-fire included a halt to the IDF operation, the reopening of the border crossings into the Gaza Strip and the lifting of the blockade. The Hamas spokesman said that the decision to declare a unilateral cease-fire showed that the war was also a unilateral move on the part of Israel against the Palestinians. "This war had nothing to do with the rockets or the presence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said. "This war against children, women and the elderly was part of the upcoming Israeli election campaign." Hamas also voiced opposition to the US-Israeli agreement to stop the smuggling of weapons under the border between Gaza and Egypt. "This agreement is aimed at tightening the siege around the Gaza Strip and establishing a new base for spying on the Palestinians and Egypt." |
| Sunday, January 18, 2009 |
| Scoop: Schedule for arms delivery from Iran to Gaza via Egypt (weekly |
| Scoop: Schedule for arms delivery from Iran to Gaza via Egypt (weekly service) Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 18 January 2009 While the Olmert-Livni-Barak team continues congratulating itself for the arrangements to stop the flow of arms to Gaza, weekly arms smuggling service via Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines can be expected to continue without interference. Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines offers weekly container service from Bandar Abbas, Iran to Damietta, Egypt. The containers containing weapons will carry all the proper documentation to be released from Damietta. * Loads every Friday, arrival in Egypt two weeks later For a copy of the schedule: www.seabase.com.cn/files/tools/2008120844403981.xls * Why expect Iran to be any less sophisticated than the group that managed to ship arms to the Haganah and then the fledgling Jewish State despite the arms embargo? |
Hamas declares ceasefire, gives IDF one week to withdraw
(I GUESS THEY WON THE WAR AND CAN DICTATE TERMS
)
Jan. 18, 2009
Khaled Abu Toameh and jpost.com staff , THE JERUSALEM POST
Khaled Abu Toameh and jpost.com staff , THE JERUSALEM POST
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.
Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal announced on Syrian television on Sunday afternoon that the Islamic group would implement a cease-fire in which they would halt all military activity and give IDF troops one week to pull out of the Gaza Strip.
According to the statement, Israel must end the blockade and open the Rafah border crossing.
The development comes after Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire which took effect earlier Sunday morning.
The two cease-fires do not appear to be coordinated with each other, and have contradicting demands. While Israel said it would halt all military activity, it said it would maintain its presence in Gaza until it was clear that Palestinian gunmen would honor the calm.
In addition, Israel said it would not open any border crossings until all hostilities have ceased.
On Saturday, Hamas said it would continue to fight despite Israel's decision unilaterally end the offensive.
However, defiant statements issued by a number of Hamas representatives were countered by sources close to the movement which said the group would honor the cease-fire.
"Hamas needs the lull," the sources said. "They have been hit hard and they have no choice but to comply."
Hamas representatives said they would resist any attempt by Israel or other parties to confiscate its weapons. They also warned against allowing forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to the Strip.
"We will continue the resistance operations for as long as there is one Zionist soldier in the Gaza Strip," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. "We will continue regardless of the price."
Fawzi said Hamas's conditions for accepting a cease-fire included a halt to the IDF operation, the reopening of the border crossings into the Gaza Strip and the lifting of the blockade.
The Hamas spokesman said that the decision to declare a unilateral cease-fire showed that the war was also a unilateral move on the part of Israel against the Palestinians.
"This war had nothing to do with the rockets or the presence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said. "This war against children, women and the elderly was part of the upcoming Israeli election campaign."
Hamas also voiced opposition to the US-Israeli agreement to stop the smuggling of weapons under the border between Gaza and Egypt.
"This agreement is aimed at tightening the siege around the Gaza Strip and establishing a new base for spying on the Palestinians and Egypt." 
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1232100170713&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Rocket Roulette Resumes in Southern Israel
Tevet 22, 5769, 18 January 09 02:18
by Hana Levi Julian(IsraelNN.com) Gaza terrorists resumed firing rocket and mortar attacks at southern Israel on Sunday, ignoring the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Jewish State hours earlier, at 2:00 a.m.
Twelve hours after the start of the ceasefire, some 15 rockets and mortars had been fired at Israeli civilians in the south and Israeli military forces had attacked the terror cells that launched them.
Just before 2:30 p.m., two long-range Grad rockets exploded in the coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon. In Ashdod, one person suffered light shrapnel wounds in the hand. The landing site in Ashkelon had not yet been located.
A Kassam rocket struck a kibbutz near Sha’ar HaNegev at around 1:30 p.m., but landed in an open area. No one was injured and no damage was reported.
At 1:00 p.m., two long-range Grad rockets slammed into the coastal city of Ashkelon, one landing close to a building in the city and damaging the structure. The other missile exploded on the outskirts of town. One woman was treated for severe emotional trauma.
A long-range rocket hit a massive chicken coop in a moshav near Kiryat Gat at around 11:45 a.m., killing at least 200 of the birds. Another chicken coop was also hit by mortar fire at around 9:30 a.m. in a kibbutz in the Sha'ar HaNegev region. Mortars also hit the Eshkol region at around the same time.
The terrorists began the morning's attacks with a Kassam barrage on Sderot, located less than a kilometer away from the security barrier. A volley of six of the short-range rockets exploded in the city at about 9:00 a.m. All of the missiles landed in open areas, and caused no injuries or damage.
Since the ceasefire went into effect, the IDF has also returned to the pinpoint attacks on rocket launchers and their operating terrorist cells that it conducted prior to Operation Cast Lead, as opposed to carrying out a full-scale military operation.
The IDF attacked the rocket launching squad that fired the rocket at Kiryat Gat, and confirmed a successful strike. According to the IDF Spokesperson, Israeli forces responded and eliminated two rocket launching squads.
Israel Air Force pilots struck the terrorist cell that launched the rocket attack on Sderot shortly after the morning’s initial attack. They confirmed hitting the operatives and eliminating the launchers.
Olmert: ‘We Reserve Right to Renew Operation’
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded to the renewed rocket fire by pointing out that the ceasefire was extremely “fragile.” Olmert added that Israel reserved the right to renew full military operations in Gaza if the attacks do not stop.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded to the renewed rocket fire by pointing out that the ceasefire was extremely “fragile.” Olmert added that Israel reserved the right to renew full military operations in Gaza if the attacks do not stop.
Olmert made the remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, saying, “We are monitoring all of the developments, minute after minute, hour after hour. The military forces in the Strip have their eyes wide open, are attentive to any rustle and are ready for any order from their commanders,” he said.
“The decision on the ceasefire leaves Israel the right to react and renew its military actions if the terror groups continue firing.” Olmert also thanked Likud chairman MK Binyamin Netanyahu, saying, “I would like to praise the opposition leader for supporting the government during the operation and explaining Israel’s position to the world.”
The Knesset has been called by Speaker Dalia Itzik into an emergency session for Sunday evening to discuss the ongoing fighting in Gaza.
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