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1. Fears of Arab Fifth Column
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The number of Arab party Members of Knesset will decline from nine to four following the February 10 elections, according to a new poll carried out by Geocartographia for Globes. The survey reflects a growing trend among Israeli Arabs to boycott the Israeli democratic process and ally with radical anti-Israel groups, most notably the Islamic Movement headed by Sheikh Raad Salah.
Known Arab terrorist organizations also are getting openly involved in Israel. Police on Friday shut down the Maidan Theatre in Haifa, where the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group was planning a rally for Saturday.
The event was promoted as a pre-election rally, but police said information indicated that the purpose was to back the terrorist group that was headed by the late George Habash. In response, Issam Mashul, a former MK of the predominantly Arab Hadash party that includes Jewish MK Doc Khenin, called the police move "political terror."
Virtually all pre-election polls show that Hadash will win four seats in the next Knesset, one more than it now holds.
However, the Ra'am-Ta'al and Balad parties, along with a new party that wants to shift focus to issues other than the Arab-Jewish struggle, will not hold any seats at all in the next legislature, according to the Globes poll. Other surveys the past three days project 8-10 seats for Arab MKs.
The High Court recently overturned a Knesset Elections Committee decision that Balad and Ra'am-Ta'al cannot run because of their positions that question the validity of a Jewish nation. The Geocartographia poll indicates that the committee decision touched off a negative reaction in the Arab community, according to the polling group's manager Prof. Avi Degani.
The projected lack of Israel Arabs' participation in the upcoming election is a new low. "If a third of the Arab electorate fails to go the polls, that will be a danger signal," Globes noted.
Forty percent of Arab respondents have not decided how they will vote or whether they will join a growing number who have said they will boycott the ballot box.
If they vote for non-Arab parties, Kadima and Meretz may benefit. The latest polls project between 28 and 31 seats for the Likud, 20-23 for Kadima and 13-17 for Labor. All of the surveys agree that Shas will maintain its current level of 11 seats or will lose only one, while Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) is projected with 16 MKs and Meretz 5-7 seats.
The surveys also show that the Jewish Home faction, which is largely a renewal of the National Religious Party, will win 3-4 seats. The Ichud Leumi (National Union) is projected to earn 3-5 seats. United Torah Judaism (UTJ) would be represented with 5-7 MKs if elections were held now.
Discuss this topic on the Israel Politics & Elections forum.
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by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The number of Arab party Members of Knesset will decline from nine to four following the February 10 elections, according to a new poll carried out by Geocartographia for Globes. The survey reflects a growing trend among Israeli Arabs to boycott the Israeli democratic process and ally with radical anti-Israel groups, most notably the Islamic Movement headed by Sheikh Raad Salah.
Known Arab terrorist organizations also are getting openly involved in Israel. Police on Friday shut down the Maidan Theatre in Haifa, where the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group was planning a rally for Saturday.
The event was promoted as a pre-election rally, but police said information indicated that the purpose was to back the terrorist group that was headed by the late George Habash. In response, Issam Mashul, a former MK of the predominantly Arab Hadash party that includes Jewish MK Doc Khenin, called the police move "political terror."
Virtually all pre-election polls show that Hadash will win four seats in the next Knesset, one more than it now holds.
However, the Ra'am-Ta'al and Balad parties, along with a new party that wants to shift focus to issues other than the Arab-Jewish struggle, will not hold any seats at all in the next legislature, according to the Globes poll. Other surveys the past three days project 8-10 seats for Arab MKs.
The High Court recently overturned a Knesset Elections Committee decision that Balad and Ra'am-Ta'al cannot run because of their positions that question the validity of a Jewish nation. The Geocartographia poll indicates that the committee decision touched off a negative reaction in the Arab community, according to the polling group's manager Prof. Avi Degani.
The projected lack of Israel Arabs' participation in the upcoming election is a new low. "If a third of the Arab electorate fails to go the polls, that will be a danger signal," Globes noted.
Forty percent of Arab respondents have not decided how they will vote or whether they will join a growing number who have said they will boycott the ballot box.
If they vote for non-Arab parties, Kadima and Meretz may benefit. The latest polls project between 28 and 31 seats for the Likud, 20-23 for Kadima and 13-17 for Labor. All of the surveys agree that Shas will maintain its current level of 11 seats or will lose only one, while Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) is projected with 16 MKs and Meretz 5-7 seats.
The surveys also show that the Jewish Home faction, which is largely a renewal of the National Religious Party, will win 3-4 seats. The Ichud Leumi (National Union) is projected to earn 3-5 seats. United Torah Judaism (UTJ) would be represented with 5-7 MKs if elections were held now.
Discuss this topic on the Israel Politics & Elections forum.
Comment on this story
2. London: Bomb Gaza Civilians
by Hillel Fendel
Left-wing television and media personality Yaron London surprised many of his colleagues during the recent war against Hamas by calling for a no-holds-barred military response against the civilian population of Gaza.
London first outlined his views in an article in Yediot Acharonot, and then elaborated upon them for clearly-shocked interviewer Razi Barkai on Army Radio.
“It appears that we have exhausted the options of moderating Hamas fanaticism with measured responses,” London wrote, “and the time has come to shock the Gaza population with actions that until now have nauseated us - [such a killing the political leadership, causing hunger and thirst in Gaza, blocking off energy sources, causing widespread destruction, and being less discriminating in the killing of civilians. There is no other choice.”
Asked by Barkai, a veteran left-wing broadcaster in his own right, why there is no choice, London responded, “The strategy of modular and gradual pressure has not brought the desired results. We cannot absorb any more Kassams, we cannot fortify the entire south, we cannot take over Gaza because the price will be too heavy, and gradual pressure has only made Hamas and the Gaza population even tougher and more fanatic. I therefore concluded that there are only two remaining options: being extra nice to them, or being extra tough –"
Barkai interrupts and says, “There is a third option: negotiations with Hamas.”
London: “Which will bring what?”
Barkai: “I have no idea, but it is a possibility, at least in theory.”
London: “Negotiations will lead only to a ceasefire, whose duration will be determined solely in accordance with Hamas interests; we will not come out of that period with a greater advantage in terms of arms and weapons…”
Asked how he can guarantee that a tougher Israeli offensive will yield the desired results, London said: “Experience in past wars shows me that if we are tough enough, then at a certain stage, their standing-power will break… I am referring to both the population and their leadership; they are the same, because the population voted for Hamas. I can’t separate between one who voted for Hamas and a Hamas leader.”
Barkai: We will have to deal with very difficult pictures of hungry children –
London: Yes.
Barkai: and destroyed houses -
London: Yes.
Barkai: and dead unarmed civilians, etc. How will we be able to deal with this?
London: Everyone in Gaza is armed… There is a consensus in Israel that the time has come to take action. We cannot fortify Ashdod, and Netivot, and Sderot, and bear this disgrace.
Barkai: There might be thousands of dead?
London: I hope not – I hope that one real blow will put an end to this before we get to that.
Barkai: Give me an example of such a blow.
London: I don’t want to give an example, but you can go back to history and see.
Barkai: [short pau The only thing I can think of, and that you apparently don’t want to say, is the bombing of cities such as in World War II.
London: Right. You don’t need to bomb a whole city; a quarter of a borough should be enough…
Barkai finally asked, “Tell me, have you undergone an – I don’t want to say ‘ideological crisis’ because that sounds too high-brow, but perhaps a little crisis—
London: My brothers in Sderot are what brought me to this.
Barkai uses his trademark phrase: “Ki ma?” [Because what
London: Because I can’t take the idea of little frightened girls running around in the streets of Sderot. That’s the whole thing. You can tolerate it for a certain amount of time, like the kibbutzim of the Jordan Valley did, or if it’s only a small amount of terror organizations, or whatever. But when an entire population of 1.5 million [Gaza Arab voted for this Hamas government, then this population has to bear the responsibility. That’s the whole story.
Comment on this story
by Hillel Fendel
Left-wing television and media personality Yaron London surprised many of his colleagues during the recent war against Hamas by calling for a no-holds-barred military response against the civilian population of Gaza.
London first outlined his views in an article in Yediot Acharonot, and then elaborated upon them for clearly-shocked interviewer Razi Barkai on Army Radio.
“It appears that we have exhausted the options of moderating Hamas fanaticism with measured responses,” London wrote, “and the time has come to shock the Gaza population with actions that until now have nauseated us - [such a killing the political leadership, causing hunger and thirst in Gaza, blocking off energy sources, causing widespread destruction, and being less discriminating in the killing of civilians. There is no other choice.”
Asked by Barkai, a veteran left-wing broadcaster in his own right, why there is no choice, London responded, “The strategy of modular and gradual pressure has not brought the desired results. We cannot absorb any more Kassams, we cannot fortify the entire south, we cannot take over Gaza because the price will be too heavy, and gradual pressure has only made Hamas and the Gaza population even tougher and more fanatic. I therefore concluded that there are only two remaining options: being extra nice to them, or being extra tough –"
Barkai interrupts and says, “There is a third option: negotiations with Hamas.”
London: “Which will bring what?”
Barkai: “I have no idea, but it is a possibility, at least in theory.”
London: “Negotiations will lead only to a ceasefire, whose duration will be determined solely in accordance with Hamas interests; we will not come out of that period with a greater advantage in terms of arms and weapons…”
Asked how he can guarantee that a tougher Israeli offensive will yield the desired results, London said: “Experience in past wars shows me that if we are tough enough, then at a certain stage, their standing-power will break… I am referring to both the population and their leadership; they are the same, because the population voted for Hamas. I can’t separate between one who voted for Hamas and a Hamas leader.”
Barkai: We will have to deal with very difficult pictures of hungry children –
London: Yes.
Barkai: and destroyed houses -
London: Yes.
Barkai: and dead unarmed civilians, etc. How will we be able to deal with this?
London: Everyone in Gaza is armed… There is a consensus in Israel that the time has come to take action. We cannot fortify Ashdod, and Netivot, and Sderot, and bear this disgrace.
Barkai: There might be thousands of dead?
London: I hope not – I hope that one real blow will put an end to this before we get to that.
Barkai: Give me an example of such a blow.
London: I don’t want to give an example, but you can go back to history and see.
Barkai: [short pau The only thing I can think of, and that you apparently don’t want to say, is the bombing of cities such as in World War II.
London: Right. You don’t need to bomb a whole city; a quarter of a borough should be enough…
Barkai finally asked, “Tell me, have you undergone an – I don’t want to say ‘ideological crisis’ because that sounds too high-brow, but perhaps a little crisis—
London: My brothers in Sderot are what brought me to this.
Barkai uses his trademark phrase: “Ki ma?” [Because what
London: Because I can’t take the idea of little frightened girls running around in the streets of Sderot. That’s the whole thing. You can tolerate it for a certain amount of time, like the kibbutzim of the Jordan Valley did, or if it’s only a small amount of terror organizations, or whatever. But when an entire population of 1.5 million [Gaza Arab voted for this Hamas government, then this population has to bear the responsibility. That’s the whole story.
Comment on this story
3. Hamas Leaders Meet in Tehran
by Avraham Zuroff
A delegation of senior Hamas terrorists headed by Khaled Maashal, the group's Damascus-based political bureau chief, arrived early Sunday morning in Tehran for talks with Iran's top spiritual leader, according to Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq. The delegation will meet with Ayatollah Ali Khomeini and with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Hamas official told the Reuters news agency.
Mashaal, who visited Qatar last week, is being accompanied by five other Hamas officials on his visit to Teheran.
Hamas was closely connected with Iran and Syria during the IDF’s Operation ‘Cast Lead.’ Iran has been a main funder of the terrorist group, and has smuggled weapons into Gaza. The Islamic Republic has also vowed to replenish the group's depleted supply of missiles following its recent war with Israel.
An Iranian supply ship is currently being held up in Cyprus on suspicion of trying to deliver weapons to Gaza after arms were discovered on board during a search of the vessel last week at the entrance to the Suez Canal by American naval personnel.
The terrorist organization has stated that it would intensify its efforts to lift Israel’s blockade on the Gaza coast, which Egypt has assisted. Although Israel will not directly negotiate with Hamas since it does not want to legitimize the terrorist organization, ongoing negotiations have been brokered via Egypt.
Hamas considers Israel’s blockade, which it claims damages Gaza’s economy, as a form of collective punishment against the Arab residents of Gaza. The group cites the blockade as one of its reasons for not renewing the ceasefire agreement with Israel in December, which prompted the Gaza war.
Israel, however, states that the passageways into Gaza have been used by the Hamas to stock up with weapons, including long-range rockets, which have been fired into Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva. This past Saturday, the Hamas again broke the ceasefire by firing a Grad rocket into Ashkelon. The group repeatedly fired rocket and mortar attacks against southern Israel throughout last week, in violation of the ceasefire it declared on January 18, following Israel's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire and the end of Operation 'Cast Lead' in Gaza.
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by Avraham Zuroff
A delegation of senior Hamas terrorists headed by Khaled Maashal, the group's Damascus-based political bureau chief, arrived early Sunday morning in Tehran for talks with Iran's top spiritual leader, according to Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq. The delegation will meet with Ayatollah Ali Khomeini and with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Hamas official told the Reuters news agency.
Mashaal, who visited Qatar last week, is being accompanied by five other Hamas officials on his visit to Teheran.
Hamas was closely connected with Iran and Syria during the IDF’s Operation ‘Cast Lead.’ Iran has been a main funder of the terrorist group, and has smuggled weapons into Gaza. The Islamic Republic has also vowed to replenish the group's depleted supply of missiles following its recent war with Israel.
An Iranian supply ship is currently being held up in Cyprus on suspicion of trying to deliver weapons to Gaza after arms were discovered on board during a search of the vessel last week at the entrance to the Suez Canal by American naval personnel.
The terrorist organization has stated that it would intensify its efforts to lift Israel’s blockade on the Gaza coast, which Egypt has assisted. Although Israel will not directly negotiate with Hamas since it does not want to legitimize the terrorist organization, ongoing negotiations have been brokered via Egypt.
Hamas considers Israel’s blockade, which it claims damages Gaza’s economy, as a form of collective punishment against the Arab residents of Gaza. The group cites the blockade as one of its reasons for not renewing the ceasefire agreement with Israel in December, which prompted the Gaza war.
Israel, however, states that the passageways into Gaza have been used by the Hamas to stock up with weapons, including long-range rockets, which have been fired into Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva. This past Saturday, the Hamas again broke the ceasefire by firing a Grad rocket into Ashkelon. The group repeatedly fired rocket and mortar attacks against southern Israel throughout last week, in violation of the ceasefire it declared on January 18, following Israel's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire and the end of Operation 'Cast Lead' in Gaza.
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4. UN: IDF Didn't Hit School
by Maayana Miskin
During the Cast Lead operation in Gaza, IDF tank fire near a United Nations school in Gaza was blamed for the deaths of dozens of civilians who had taken refuge in the building. The incident became one of the most highly publicized attacks in the war, and led to heavy international criticism.
Recent reports suggest that the incident was not accurately portrayed by senior U.N. officials. John Ging, the director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, spoke to the Toronto Globe and Mail last week and agreed that no shell had actually struck the school building. Ging said he had never claimed that the school itself was hit, and he blamed Israel for confusion over where the strike took place.
Shortly after the alleged attack, Ging harshly criticized Israel for firing near the school, saying he had given the exact coordinates of the compound to the IDF. He charged that the IDF had failed to avoid hitting the building.
While admitting that Israeli fire had not hit the school compound, Ging insisted it made little difference. “Forty-one innocent people were killed in the street... The State of Israel still has to answer for that,” he said.
While many Israel news outlets reported that the strike had taken place near the school, several international media networks reported that the UN school building itself was hit. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs may have added to the confusion by releasing a report stating that Israeli fire “directly hit two UNRWA schools.”
Almost all reports said that the victims were primarily civilians who had fled to the school for shelter – a version of events cast into suspicion by the Globe and Mail report.
A teacher who was in the school at the time of the shelling reported that several people within the compound were injured, but that none were killed. Those killed were all outside in the street as the shells were fired, he said. Only three of those killed were students at the school, he added.
The teacher did not give his name, explaining that U.N .officials had told staff not to talk to the media.
The IDF responded to criticism over the attack by explaining that soldiers were simply responding to terrorist fire and did not mean to hit a civilian area.
Comment on this story
by Maayana Miskin
During the Cast Lead operation in Gaza, IDF tank fire near a United Nations school in Gaza was blamed for the deaths of dozens of civilians who had taken refuge in the building. The incident became one of the most highly publicized attacks in the war, and led to heavy international criticism.
Recent reports suggest that the incident was not accurately portrayed by senior U.N. officials. John Ging, the director of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, spoke to the Toronto Globe and Mail last week and agreed that no shell had actually struck the school building. Ging said he had never claimed that the school itself was hit, and he blamed Israel for confusion over where the strike took place.
Shortly after the alleged attack, Ging harshly criticized Israel for firing near the school, saying he had given the exact coordinates of the compound to the IDF. He charged that the IDF had failed to avoid hitting the building.
While admitting that Israeli fire had not hit the school compound, Ging insisted it made little difference. “Forty-one innocent people were killed in the street... The State of Israel still has to answer for that,” he said.
While many Israel news outlets reported that the strike had taken place near the school, several international media networks reported that the UN school building itself was hit. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs may have added to the confusion by releasing a report stating that Israeli fire “directly hit two UNRWA schools.”
Almost all reports said that the victims were primarily civilians who had fled to the school for shelter – a version of events cast into suspicion by the Globe and Mail report.
A teacher who was in the school at the time of the shelling reported that several people within the compound were injured, but that none were killed. Those killed were all outside in the street as the shells were fired, he said. Only three of those killed were students at the school, he added.
The teacher did not give his name, explaining that U.N .officials had told staff not to talk to the media.
The IDF responded to criticism over the attack by explaining that soldiers were simply responding to terrorist fire and did not mean to hit a civilian area.
Comment on this story
5. Fatah Terror Group Fires Rockets
by Hana Levi Julian
Less than two weeks after Israel ended its Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, terrorists once again launched rockets at civilians in southern Israel early Sunday morning with a barrage of short-range Kassams. This time, the Fatah faction led by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is involved in the attacks.
Fatah's military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade terrorist group, claimed responsibility for firing one of three short-range rockets at the Gaza Belt region, according to the Hebrew-language Yediot Acharonot's Arab affairs reporter Ali Waked.
Israeli intelligence officials said, however, that the rockets were launched by members of the Hamas and Shuhada al-Aqsa terrorist cells, neither of which are willing to take public responsibility for the attacks, due to fears of Israeli retaliation. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting that the government considers the Hamas terrorist organization to be fully responsible for all rocket fire against southern Israel. "It's the only landlord in the Gaza Strip," he said. "It's responsible and we will act against it."
The Color Red incoming missile alert system wailed its warning at around 6:50 a.m. to Israelis living in the Gaza Belt region. Two rockets slammed into the Eshkol region, one landing between two kindergarten buildings. A third exploded in the Sdot Negev region. Miraculously, no one was injured and no damage was reported.
Two hours later, Gaza snipers opened fire at IDF soldiers patrolling near the security barrier near the Kissufim Crossing. The troops returned fire. No casualties were reported on either side.
At around 11:00 a.m., four mortar shells were fired at the Sha'ar HaNegev region as well. Two of the mortars exploded, but two others did not, and lay dormant. No one was injured and no damage was reported.
The attacks followed on the heels of a Grad missile attack on the coastal city of Ashkelon during the Sabbath. The missile exploded in an open area on the southern outskirts of the city, and no injuries or damage were reported.
By 11:50 a.m., Israel had not yet responded in force to the attacks. Olmert told Cabinet ministers in his opening statement, "We shall not return to the rules of the game the terror organizations have been trying to dictate, and we won't be dragged into an unstoppable shooting war. The situation today is that the rocket fire continues, and this stops the State of Israel from moving forward. I've instructed the defense minister to order the military officials to prepare for an Israeli response. We won't warn the terror organizations in advance of when and how we plan to respond, but Israel will respond in the manner it chooses."
Last week, Gaza terrorists fired a short-range Kassam attack at the rocket-battered city of Sderot, where the first-ever fortified, rocket-proof Torah study hall was dedicated last Thursday.
The Jewish National Fund has also been inspired to build a protected indoor playground and recreation center for the region's families. The center, which is expected to be finished by the Purim holiday in March, will be equipped with special indoor and outdoor bomb shelters.
The Kassam attack came after a retaliatory air strike by Israel Air Force pilots on a weapons factory near the Gaza-Egyptian border town of Rafiah..
The return to the "tit for tat" strategy began Tuesday after Gaza terrorists killed an IDF soldier and wounded three others, including an officer who was badly injured, in a cross-border bombing near the Kissufim Crossing. In response, the Israel Air Force destroyed smuggling tunnels on the Philadelphi Route that runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt. The IDF also sent in ground troops and tanks for a raid on the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis that lasted several hours.
The next day, Israel Air Force (IAF) war planes struck a 25-year-old Global Jihad (al Qaeda) terrorist who was one of the members of the cell responsible for detonating Wednesday's explosive device that killed the IDF soldier. A second terrorist in the vehicle was also injured in the strike. Local sources said that five children were injured as well, but the claim was not independently confirmed.
IDF to 'Act Without Hesitation'?
In a statement issued at the start of the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, January 18, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded to the first post-ceasefire rocket attack by reminding Israelis that the truce was extremely "fragile." He added that Israel reserved the right to renew full military operations in Gaza if the attacks do not stop.
"The decision leaves Israel with the freedom to respond and resume firing if our enemies, the various terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, continue their attacks," he said in a statement disseminated to the media following the meeting.
US Envoy Holding Talks in Cairo
United States Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who has been shuttling back and forth between Egypt, Israel, Ramallah and Jordan over the past week, is still in the region.
Mitchell, who has strongly urged Israel and Hamas to extend the "truce" that was declared on January 18, is scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Sunday to discuss proposals to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has also been summoned to Cairo for talks on Sunday as well, prompting him to postpone a planned trip to Europe.
Comment on this story
by Hana Levi Julian
Less than two weeks after Israel ended its Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, terrorists once again launched rockets at civilians in southern Israel early Sunday morning with a barrage of short-range Kassams. This time, the Fatah faction led by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is involved in the attacks.
Fatah's military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade terrorist group, claimed responsibility for firing one of three short-range rockets at the Gaza Belt region, according to the Hebrew-language Yediot Acharonot's Arab affairs reporter Ali Waked.
Israeli intelligence officials said, however, that the rockets were launched by members of the Hamas and Shuhada al-Aqsa terrorist cells, neither of which are willing to take public responsibility for the attacks, due to fears of Israeli retaliation. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting that the government considers the Hamas terrorist organization to be fully responsible for all rocket fire against southern Israel. "It's the only landlord in the Gaza Strip," he said. "It's responsible and we will act against it."
The Color Red incoming missile alert system wailed its warning at around 6:50 a.m. to Israelis living in the Gaza Belt region. Two rockets slammed into the Eshkol region, one landing between two kindergarten buildings. A third exploded in the Sdot Negev region. Miraculously, no one was injured and no damage was reported.
Two hours later, Gaza snipers opened fire at IDF soldiers patrolling near the security barrier near the Kissufim Crossing. The troops returned fire. No casualties were reported on either side.
At around 11:00 a.m., four mortar shells were fired at the Sha'ar HaNegev region as well. Two of the mortars exploded, but two others did not, and lay dormant. No one was injured and no damage was reported.
The attacks followed on the heels of a Grad missile attack on the coastal city of Ashkelon during the Sabbath. The missile exploded in an open area on the southern outskirts of the city, and no injuries or damage were reported.
By 11:50 a.m., Israel had not yet responded in force to the attacks. Olmert told Cabinet ministers in his opening statement, "We shall not return to the rules of the game the terror organizations have been trying to dictate, and we won't be dragged into an unstoppable shooting war. The situation today is that the rocket fire continues, and this stops the State of Israel from moving forward. I've instructed the defense minister to order the military officials to prepare for an Israeli response. We won't warn the terror organizations in advance of when and how we plan to respond, but Israel will respond in the manner it chooses."
Last week, Gaza terrorists fired a short-range Kassam attack at the rocket-battered city of Sderot, where the first-ever fortified, rocket-proof Torah study hall was dedicated last Thursday.
The Jewish National Fund has also been inspired to build a protected indoor playground and recreation center for the region's families. The center, which is expected to be finished by the Purim holiday in March, will be equipped with special indoor and outdoor bomb shelters.
The Kassam attack came after a retaliatory air strike by Israel Air Force pilots on a weapons factory near the Gaza-Egyptian border town of Rafiah..
The return to the "tit for tat" strategy began Tuesday after Gaza terrorists killed an IDF soldier and wounded three others, including an officer who was badly injured, in a cross-border bombing near the Kissufim Crossing. In response, the Israel Air Force destroyed smuggling tunnels on the Philadelphi Route that runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt. The IDF also sent in ground troops and tanks for a raid on the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis that lasted several hours.
The next day, Israel Air Force (IAF) war planes struck a 25-year-old Global Jihad (al Qaeda) terrorist who was one of the members of the cell responsible for detonating Wednesday's explosive device that killed the IDF soldier. A second terrorist in the vehicle was also injured in the strike. Local sources said that five children were injured as well, but the claim was not independently confirmed.
IDF to 'Act Without Hesitation'?
In a statement issued at the start of the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, January 18, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert responded to the first post-ceasefire rocket attack by reminding Israelis that the truce was extremely "fragile." He added that Israel reserved the right to renew full military operations in Gaza if the attacks do not stop.
"The decision leaves Israel with the freedom to respond and resume firing if our enemies, the various terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, continue their attacks," he said in a statement disseminated to the media following the meeting.
US Envoy Holding Talks in Cairo
United States Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who has been shuttling back and forth between Egypt, Israel, Ramallah and Jordan over the past week, is still in the region.
Mitchell, who has strongly urged Israel and Hamas to extend the "truce" that was declared on January 18, is scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Sunday to discuss proposals to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza.
Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has also been summoned to Cairo for talks on Sunday as well, prompting him to postpone a planned trip to Europe.
Comment on this story
6. Israel Challenges Spain’s Probe
by Avraham Zuroff
Spain has allegedly agreed to change its legislation in order to try and prevent international forces from manipulating its court system unjustly in the future, according to a statement issued by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday.
The move comes in the wake of charges filed in a Madrid court against senior Israeli defense officials accusing them of “war crimes” in the assassination of senior Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh in 2002.
“I just heard from the Spanish Foreign Minister, Moratinos, that Spain has decided to change its legislation in connection with universal jurisdiction and this can prevent the abuse of the Spanish legal system," Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni told the Associated Press on Friday. "I think this is very important news and I hope that other states in Europe will do the same," she said.
Livni added that political organizations were abusing the Spanish legal system “in order to put charges against Israelis and others that are fighting terror.”
Spain’s law of “universal jurisdiction,” which was applied against seven senior Israeli officials, allows the prosecution of foreigners for crimes against humanity anywhere in the world. Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed his outrage at the Madrid court ruling, calling the action “delirious.”
TVE, Spanish State Television, quoted government officials who mentioned the possibility of a legal “adjustment or modification.” However, the change would not be retroactive or affect the case before the courts. Although Livni stated that Spain would change its legislation, Spanish government officials reiterated that they would not appeal its 1870 law of universal jurisdiction.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at Sunday’s cabinet meeting attacked the Spanish probe, who has previously assured state protection of its military against foreign prosecution. Olmert referred to the Spanish court ruling to “bespeak a double morality and self-righteousness by those who – for years – shut their eyes to terrorism against residents of the State of Israel and who now stir themselves to cast aspersions on, and preach morality to, people who acted in defense against terrorism. We will fully back every Israeli citizen, and certainly security personnel who acted on behalf of the State if someone tries to cast aspersions on them and take legal steps against them.”
Minister Livni last week directed the Foreign Ministry's Legal Department to continue working as quickly as possible to fully expedite every legal remedy to cancel the Spanish magistrate’s ruling.
"Israel views the step taken today in Spain with severity, and will continue to work towards the cancellation of the ruling. One way or another, Israel will stand behind, and provide full legal counsel, to all members of the armed forces who acted in the name of the State of Israel,” Livni stated, adding, “The Spanish magistrate's decision is unacceptable, and Israel will use all the means at its disposal to cancel it."
Livni told Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos on Thursday night that Israel views the judge's ruling with severity. “The judge made his decision before he received the relevant documents related to the issue, and therefore, it can only be viewed as a political decision rather than a legal one,” Livni stated. In addition, Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister stated that the Spanish court ruling “is of consequence not only to those who were actually charged, but to every Israeli who takes part in the defense of his country. This is an extremely grave and significant incident between states, and that is how Spain must relate to it."
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that the incident must be dealt with immediately, and that she expects a reply from Spain regarding how that country intends to solve the problem as soon as possible. The Spanish minister promised that he would forward the severity of Livni's remarks to the Spanish Prime Minister as well, and would advise Livni of any developments in the matter within the next few days.
The Justice Ministry subsequently sent documents related to the assassination of senior Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh to Spain in an attempt to end a probe into the killing. A Spanish judge accused Israel of war crimes in the assassination, which killed Shehadeh, his wife and daughter, and 12 others.
Those named in the probe include senior Israeli officials such as Ministers Avi Dichter and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and former IDF Chiefs of Staff Moshe Yaalon and Dan Halutz. Israeli leaders said last week that they would provide IDF officers accused of crimes for carrying out state orders with whatever assistance they would need.
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by Avraham Zuroff
Spain has allegedly agreed to change its legislation in order to try and prevent international forces from manipulating its court system unjustly in the future, according to a statement issued by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday.
The move comes in the wake of charges filed in a Madrid court against senior Israeli defense officials accusing them of “war crimes” in the assassination of senior Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh in 2002.
“I just heard from the Spanish Foreign Minister, Moratinos, that Spain has decided to change its legislation in connection with universal jurisdiction and this can prevent the abuse of the Spanish legal system," Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni told the Associated Press on Friday. "I think this is very important news and I hope that other states in Europe will do the same," she said.
Livni added that political organizations were abusing the Spanish legal system “in order to put charges against Israelis and others that are fighting terror.”
Spain’s law of “universal jurisdiction,” which was applied against seven senior Israeli officials, allows the prosecution of foreigners for crimes against humanity anywhere in the world. Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed his outrage at the Madrid court ruling, calling the action “delirious.”
TVE, Spanish State Television, quoted government officials who mentioned the possibility of a legal “adjustment or modification.” However, the change would not be retroactive or affect the case before the courts. Although Livni stated that Spain would change its legislation, Spanish government officials reiterated that they would not appeal its 1870 law of universal jurisdiction.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at Sunday’s cabinet meeting attacked the Spanish probe, who has previously assured state protection of its military against foreign prosecution. Olmert referred to the Spanish court ruling to “bespeak a double morality and self-righteousness by those who – for years – shut their eyes to terrorism against residents of the State of Israel and who now stir themselves to cast aspersions on, and preach morality to, people who acted in defense against terrorism. We will fully back every Israeli citizen, and certainly security personnel who acted on behalf of the State if someone tries to cast aspersions on them and take legal steps against them.”
Minister Livni last week directed the Foreign Ministry's Legal Department to continue working as quickly as possible to fully expedite every legal remedy to cancel the Spanish magistrate’s ruling.
"Israel views the step taken today in Spain with severity, and will continue to work towards the cancellation of the ruling. One way or another, Israel will stand behind, and provide full legal counsel, to all members of the armed forces who acted in the name of the State of Israel,” Livni stated, adding, “The Spanish magistrate's decision is unacceptable, and Israel will use all the means at its disposal to cancel it."
Livni told Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos on Thursday night that Israel views the judge's ruling with severity. “The judge made his decision before he received the relevant documents related to the issue, and therefore, it can only be viewed as a political decision rather than a legal one,” Livni stated. In addition, Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister stated that the Spanish court ruling “is of consequence not only to those who were actually charged, but to every Israeli who takes part in the defense of his country. This is an extremely grave and significant incident between states, and that is how Spain must relate to it."
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that the incident must be dealt with immediately, and that she expects a reply from Spain regarding how that country intends to solve the problem as soon as possible. The Spanish minister promised that he would forward the severity of Livni's remarks to the Spanish Prime Minister as well, and would advise Livni of any developments in the matter within the next few days.
The Justice Ministry subsequently sent documents related to the assassination of senior Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh to Spain in an attempt to end a probe into the killing. A Spanish judge accused Israel of war crimes in the assassination, which killed Shehadeh, his wife and daughter, and 12 others.
Those named in the probe include senior Israeli officials such as Ministers Avi Dichter and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and former IDF Chiefs of Staff Moshe Yaalon and Dan Halutz. Israeli leaders said last week that they would provide IDF officers accused of crimes for carrying out state orders with whatever assistance they would need.
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7. Gaza Smuggler Tunnels Operating
by Hana Levi Julian
Egyptian officials reported Saturday that the leader of an outlawed Islamic organization has been arrested for entering Gaza, apparently through a smugglers' tunnel.
Majdi Ahmed Hussein, head of Al-Amal, was arrested at the Rafiah terminal, according to an Egyptian security official quoted by the AFP news agency.
A day earlier, Egyptian security personnel arrested two terrorists who emerged from a tunnel entrance near Rafiah. Seven other terrorists who had come through the same tunnel managed to escape into the area, however.
Egypt had already begun to install motion sensors and cameras along its border with Gaza on Thursday with help from American, French and German experts.
The sensors will reportedly detect subterranean construction and digging, thus helping to prevent terrorists from repairing or building new tunnels.
Former National Security Council director Giora Eiland has warned, however, that there is no way to stop smuggling at the border between Gaza and Egypt without Cairo establishing a security zone in which no one would be allowed to enter.
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by Hana Levi Julian
Egyptian officials reported Saturday that the leader of an outlawed Islamic organization has been arrested for entering Gaza, apparently through a smugglers' tunnel.
Majdi Ahmed Hussein, head of Al-Amal, was arrested at the Rafiah terminal, according to an Egyptian security official quoted by the AFP news agency.
A day earlier, Egyptian security personnel arrested two terrorists who emerged from a tunnel entrance near Rafiah. Seven other terrorists who had come through the same tunnel managed to escape into the area, however.
Egypt had already begun to install motion sensors and cameras along its border with Gaza on Thursday with help from American, French and German experts.
The sensors will reportedly detect subterranean construction and digging, thus helping to prevent terrorists from repairing or building new tunnels.
Former National Security Council director Giora Eiland has warned, however, that there is no way to stop smuggling at the border between Gaza and Egypt without Cairo establishing a security zone in which no one would be allowed to enter.
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