Classical Values :: On The Defensive

January 03, 2009

On The Defensive

Israeli ground troops have entered Gaza in an attempt to put an end to the Philistine's shelling of Israel.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza on Saturday night as the military launched the second phase of its assault on the Hamas-ruled territory after a week of airstrikes.

"Obviously, ground forces have capability that air forces don't have," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told CNN.

"We want to create a situation where the civilian population in southern Israel is no longer on the receiving end of those deadly Hamas rockets. When quiet can be achieved, this operation can be finished."

And here is a big surprise. The EU says the Israeli response is defensive.

PRAGUE, Jan 3 (Reuters) - European Union president, the Czech Republic, said on Saturday an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza was "defensive, not offensive" action.

"At the moment, from the perspective of the last days, we understand this step as a defensive, not offensive, action," Czech EU presidency spokesman Jiri Potuznik said.

The Associated Press has more news.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israeli tanks and troops launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip Saturday night with officials saying they expected a lengthy fight with Hamas militants in the densely populated territory after eight days of punishing airstrikes failed to halt rocket attacks on Israel.

Hamas vowed that Gaza would be a "graveyard" for Israelis forces.

"This will not be easy and it will not be short," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said soon after the ground invasion began.

The incursion was preceded by several hours of heavy artillery fire after dark, igniting flames in the night sky. Machine gun fire rattled as bright tracer rounds flashed through the darkness and the crash of hundreds of shells sent up streaks of fire.

Artillery fired illuminating rounds, sending streaks of bright light drifting down over Gaza's densely packed neighborhoods. Gunbattles could be heard, as troops crossed the border into Gaza, marching single file. They were backed by helicopter gunships and tanks.

Israeli security officials said the objective is not to reoccupy Gaza. The depth and intensity of the ground operation will depend on parallel diplomatic efforts, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

So far the military objectives are not clear to me. Perhaps they will become clearer as the offensive proceeds.

Israel National News gives more details on where the advances are taking place.

(IsraelNN.com) Ground troops moved into Gaza Saturday night for the first time since last February and returned to the sites of former Jewish homes in northern Gaza for the first time since the government abandoned the area with the promise that the western Negev would be freed of rocket and morat attacks.

Artillery fire from the ground and from Naval boats rained on terrorist targets before tanks roared in, and at least 30 terrorists were killed. Soldiers did not meet any massive resistance. Hamas claimed that it killed several Israeli soldiers, but there has been no other report of IDF casualties.

The soldiers, from Givati, tank, Golani and engineer units, are back by intelligence, Air Force, artillery and Naval forces. The Navy has enforced a blockade of 20 nautical miles from the Gaza Coast because of the presence of terrorists in the area.

So Northern Gaza is the focus of at least one segment of the operation. Will they flatten the area making it easier to target the rocket shooters? Time will tell.

Israeli Air Force planes dropped thousands of leaflets warning Gaza residents not to cooperate with terrorists by using phones to report on IDF operations.

I don't expect the Philistines to pay any attention to the warnings. Of course that will make Gaza communications infrastructure a target. Cell phone towers and central offices.

You can watch the Israeli Defense Forces YouTube Channel for video updates on the fighting. Here is one I particularly liked about the Philistines using mosques as weapons depots. The text that goes with it says:

Major Avital Leibovich, the head of the International Press Branch in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, explains how Hamas uses Mosques in the Gaza Strip for the storage of weapons. This is yet another example of how Hamas uses the civilian population as a human shield, risking innocent lives in order to carry out acts of terrorism.

Haaretz reports a call up of tens of thousands of Israeli troops.

Israel's government has approved the call-up of tens of thousands of reservist soldiers, it was annnounced Saturday, almost simultaneously with the launch of a Gaza ground incursion aimed at halting rocket fire on Israel's southern communities.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said in a statement that, in accordance with a secret cabinet discussion Friday, the government ordered the armed forces "to draft the necessary reservists, on a scale of tens of thousands of troops."

Since it takes about three days to bring Israeli reservists into action this move says that the war on the ground is likely to last ten days or more. Which would make it a very significant punitive raid.

Amos Harel gives his analysis of what is going on.

The killing of senior Hamas official Nizar Ghayan Thursday in an Israel Air Force strike in Jabalya is a significant development at this stage of the war in the Gaza Strip, due not only to his high position in the Gaza leadership but also because of the message his assassination sends to the Palestinians.

Gazans have been asking Haaretz why Israel is hitting Hamas foot soldiers, empty buildings and innocent civilians rather than the leadership. They see this as proof of Israel's inability to really deal with Hamas. Ghayan's killing shows that Israel is no longer hesitating. The Hamas leader in Gaza, Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, his government and certainly Hamas military leaders such as Ahmed Jabri know they have good reason to stay in hiding.

The assassination in the spring of 2004 of Abdel Aziz Rantisi and Ahmed Yassin was the main factor behind the Hamas decision to suspend suicide bombings and limit friction with Israel.

But these killings also increased sympathy for Hamas in Gaza and led to its electoral win two years later. In the same way, Hamas television quickly made use of Thursday's incident, repeatedly showing footage of Ghayan's headless body.

The message I got was that mindless violence leads to headless leaders. Pity the Philistines can't see the obvious.

Unlike the Second Lebanon War, the ground war in the Gaza Strip will be waged in densely populated urban areas. The civilian population in Lebanon fled during the fighting. In the Gaza Strip, however, there is nowhere to run but the beach and the Egyptian border, and many civilian casualties can be expected.

So what is the Egyptian attitude? Well, it is very interesting to say the least given this report fron the 29th of December.

An Egyptian border guard and a Palestinian youth were killed during border clashes between Hamas and Egyptian security forces.

An Egyptian security source said Hamas forces had also shot an Egyptian policeman in the leg.

The incidents took place near the main border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, where Egyptian riot police fired in the air to try to drive back Palestinians who had managed to penetrate the border wall.

The Palestinians were trying to flee Gaza in the midst of Israeli air strikes which have killed nearly 300 people so far.

The events are likely to aggravate tense relations between Hamas and the Egyptian Government, which says that Hamas is largely to blame for the Israeli onslaught.

An Iranian news agency says the Egyptian border guards are authorized to shoot at Philistines trying to flee Gaza.

Cairo orders a security cordon at the Rafah border crossing to open fire at the Palestinians fleeing to Egypt from Israeli raids on Gaza.

The task force has been deployed to take a stance against the Gazans seeking refuge in Sinai amid continues Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, Debka reported on Friday.

This is while an increased number of Palestinians are on their way to the border crossing following reports that Tel Aviv is scheduling artillery bombardment.

Jeeze the Iranians are quoting the Debka rumor mill. Is that the best they can do? Still it is likely to be true. After Palestinians attacked Egypt in February of 2008 I wouldn't imagine the Egyptians would be welcoming the Philistines with open arms any time soon.

One Palestinian was killed and 24 Egyptians were injured in clashes between Palestinian stone throwers and Egyptian border police Monday.

In a statement published Tuesday, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza demanded an investigation into the death and said the incident proved an arrangement must be found 'quickly' for the formal reopening of the border.

But al-Hayat quoted Egyptian officials as saying Egypt would not accept an arrangement whereby Hamas security forces would guard the Rafah border passage, as Cairo recognizes the Ramallah-based 'caretaker' government of President Mahmoud Abbas as the only legitimate Palestinian regime.

Hamas demands a role in running the passage, bypassing an international agreement from November 2005, which stipulated Abbas' Presidential Guard, Egyptian authorities and European observers would man the border passage, while Israel would observe security procedures at Rafah via video monitoring.

Hamas militants blew holes in the border on January 23, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to circumvent a tight Israeli blockade and stock up on supplies in Egypt.

And speaking of supplies, as you would expect in a war zone prices are rising for basic commodities.

According to reports from the Strip, ever since the start of Operation Cast Lead there has been a shortage in basic commodities, and those who manage to get their hands on them discover that their prices have been doubled.

The supply of basic commodities has dropped significantly since Sunday, when the Israel Defense Forces bombed dozens of smuggling tunnels at the Philadelphi Route.

Residents in the Strip reported that a sack of flour was sold on Tuesday for more than NIS 200 (about $53), compared to less than NIS 100 ($26.5) before the IDF operation which began Saturday. Many Gazans say they have been left without flour, as the vast majority of sales points have not been opened.

Sources in the Strip claim that the big merchants have basic commodities in stock, but some are afraid to bring out the goods and market them these days, while others are taking advantage of the distress in order to increase their profits.

The prices of fuel, which had been smuggled from Egypt until Sunday, have seen a significant rise since the military operation began. On Tuesday 1 liter of petrol was sold in Gaza for more than NIS 10 ($2.65), compared to only NIS 2.8 (74 cents) last week. This price rise is the reason why many private cars and public transportation vehicles are paralyzed.

Meanwhile, merchants and industrialists from the West Bank are attempting to maximize their profits by taking advantage of the waves of hostility against Israel in light of the events in Gaza.

"The Popular Campaign for Palestinian Products" in Bethlehem issued a statement Tuesday calling on local consumers to boycott Israeli products due to the "aggression" in the Gaza Strip.

I think that is more than enough to digest for now.

If you need more here are some useful links:

The Jerusalem Post
Haaretz
Israel Insider
Israel National News
MEMRI
Y-net News
Iran Press News
Asia Times
FOX News
The Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Sun Times

H/T a friend via e-mail.

Cross Posted at Power and Control

posted by Simon on 01.03.09 at 07:21 PM

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Comments

israelis are crazy, they are not going out to get Hamas they are using that as an excuse to kill innocent palestinians so they can gain the land that they think is theirs back. Number 1 Israel belongs to the palestinians, the israelis came after the holocaust but before that it was called palestine, check any globe map or atlas previous to the holocaust. and i dont see how they can treat people like nazis treated them. They are killing innocent children, when will america open there eyes

honestly · January 3, 2009 10:24 PM

Your reporters as usual have their facts wrong. HAMAS has been attacking
Israell for years. The USA, Canada and other countries have declared HAMAS a terrorist organization because of their crimminal actions. Do you know that the people of Sderot Israel have lived for years with missiles raining down on them on a daily basis. A recent report by psychologists stated that over 60 % of the general population and over 75% of the children of Sderot suffer from Post Traumatic Syndrome, the same syndrome that Vietnam Vets suffer from. Let me tell what life is like in Sderot you have 15 seconds to find shelter once the incoming missile alarm is sounded. Can you imagine if you are a young mother driving your three children, all under the age of 6, to school in the morning when the incoming missile alarm goes off. You now have 15 seconds. All your kids are seated belted in. Do you save the youngest? Do you save the oldest? Maybe you should just run for it and save yourself. Hurry you have 15 seconds to make a decision. That is life in Sderot Israel on a daily basis. You claim to be a Jew, perhaps you should go to Sderot yourself and see what is going on, but remember if you hear the income missile alarm you have 15 seconds to save yourself!!

Teller of truth · January 3, 2009 10:28 PM

the only reason why they are killing innocent people is because hamas are chickens and are hiding behind them. israel called people and gave them the chance to leave before they starting to fight. israel is letting people into their hospitals. israel does not want to fight but when you have rockets after rockets after rockets attacking your people then you muyst defend your self.

Anonymous · January 3, 2009 10:31 PM

Can you imagine what the United States would do if Mexico would lob over a few hundred missiles indiscriminately into U.S. civilian areas over a period of weeks? What was Hamas thinking? Somehow it seems they are claiming to be the victim. It is sad to see violence and devastation on either side of the boarder. Something needs to done for lasting peaceful coexistence? No one has yet come up with the solution.

Jason Harlem · January 3, 2009 10:48 PM

why on cnn they only talk to the Palestines and they only talk about how their women and children died but what about israel and all the women and children killed there?

Anonymous · January 3, 2009 10:51 PM

Why is it that when ever Israel defends itself from Terrorist attacks coming from hamas, They are condemed by the rest of the world??? Also, whenever Israel defends itself, The palestenians are the VICTIMS???I think not! The Palestenians elected this Hamas in an overwelming manor to represent the people of Gaza. I wonder if the people of Gaza are feeling like Hamas has represented them well now??When Hamas attacks Israel, Israel should totally and completely destroy that entire place Gaza!

keeping it real · January 3, 2009 10:59 PM

THOU SHALL NOT KILL, PERIOD.

All followers of the three (3) great Abrahamic religions, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam believe in the Ten (10) Commandments. In our humble
opinion, if anyone killed another innocent human being or himself, he is neither
a Jew, nor a Christian, nor a Muslim, because he disobeyed one of the
most important Commandments of Almighty God (Allah): Thou Shall Not Kill.
��..

Given below are some of the verses from the Holy Qur�an in support
thereof, referring to the number of Surah (Chapter) first followed by
the number of Ayah (Verse), later (from an English translation of the
Holy Qur�an by Mr. Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall).

Yet ye (Children of Israel) it is who slay each other and drive out a
party of your people from their homes, supporting one another against
them by sin and transgression, and if they came to you as captives ye
would ransom them, whereas their expulsion was itself unlawful for you.
Believe ye in part of the Scripture and disbelieve ye in part thereof?
(2:85)

Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah (God Almighty), and
slay the Prophets wrongfully, and slay those of mankind who enjoin
equity: announce them a painful doom. (3:21)

O ye who believe! eat not up your property among yourselves in
vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will:
nor kill (or destroy) yourselves (commit suicide): for verily Allah hath
been to you Most Merciful. (4:29)

Never should a believer kill a believer; but (if it so happens) by
mistake (compensation is due): if one (so) kills a believer, it is ordained
that he should free a believing slave and pay compensation to the
deceased's family, unless they remit it freely. If the deceased belonged to
a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a
believing slave (is enough). If he belonged to a people with whom ye have a
treaty of mutual alliance, compensation should be paid to his family
and a believing slave be freed. For those who find this beyond their
means (is prescribed) a fast for two months running: by way of repentance
to Allah: for Allah hath all knowledge and all wisdom. (4:92)

If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to
abide therein (for ever): and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him
and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him. (4:93)

For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever
killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the
earth, it shall be as if be had
killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if
he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of
old with clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), but afterwards lo!
many of them became prodigals in the earth. (5:32)

They are losers who besottedly have slain their children without
knowledge, and have forbidden that which Allah bestowed upon them, inventing
a lie against Allah. They indeed have gone astray and are not guided.
(6:140)

Say: "Come I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you
from": join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents: kill
not your children on a plea of want; We provide sustenance for you and
for them; come not nigh to shameful deeds whether open or secret; take
not life which Allah hath made sacred except by way of justice and law:
thus doth He command you that ye may learn wisdom. (6:151)

O Prophet! when believing women come to thee to take the oath of fealty
to thee that they will not associate in worship any other thing
whatever with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit
adultery (or fornication), that they will not kill their children, that
they will not utter slander intentionally forging falsehood, and that they
will not disobey thee in any just matter then do thou receive their
fealty and pray to Allah for the forgiveness (of their sins): for Allah
is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (60:12)

Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance
for them as well as for you: verily the killing of them is a great sin.
(17:31)

And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso
is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him
not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped. (17:33)

And those who cry not unto any other god along with Allah, nor take the
life which Allah hath forbidden save in (course of) justice, nor
commit adultery and whoso doeth this shall pay the penalty; (25:68)

Qazi · January 3, 2009 11:10 PM

Plus Israelis are not animals. They dont go video taping dead people they have respect for the dead. They dont go marching around the streets with guns and giving guns to little children. did you know that hamas teaches little children how to blow themselves up and to shoot guns at Israelis.

Anonymous · January 3, 2009 11:28 PM

to the scripture quoter.. the phrase translates "you should not MURDER".which anyone with a little bit of biblical language studyy knows. the Hamas and suicide bombers are MURDERERS.. troops targeting military targets are not.. G_D sent instructions to bring war against evildoers.. So stop the apologist crap for the scum Islam murderers who deserve their inevitable fate..

patriotflier · January 3, 2009 11:42 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qxkWt4r6I8&feature=PlayList&p=DB04F54F86A196F5&playnext=1&index=5

look at what Israel has to go through everyday

Anonymous · January 3, 2009 11:51 PM

I think 90% of the people in the world are behind Israel on this war with Hamas...I wish that Israel would just completly wipe out Hamas and the rest of the people that support Hamas with their Ideals. Then the rest of us would have a peaceful world to live in and leave for our children. Also, why do you only hear about the people of Gaza suffering? Are the Israeli lives not as important as the Palestenians lives??? REMEMBER! The Palestenians elected Hamas! that means they must agree with what Hamas does to Israel.

keeping it real · January 4, 2009 12:14 AM

Israel is the OJ of Countries.

Eighrhman · January 4, 2009 12:40 AM

Israel is the OJ Simson of Countries.

Eighthman · January 4, 2009 12:41 AM

Israel is the OJ Simpson of Countries.

Eighthman · January 4, 2009 12:42 AM

It seems to me that Israel complaining about the rockets that hit them is sort of like a big ugly rapist complaining that the little girl he has been unmercifully raping had the unmitigated gull to scratch his face.

Eighthman · January 4, 2009 12:45 AM

Instead of firing rockets into Israel, they should lob donuts over there stuffed with pork. That would really piss em' off.

Eighthman · January 4, 2009 12:53 AM

I think all good and proud Jews should go home to mother Israel as they are drafting more men to fight the concentration camp they created next door!

Eighthman · January 4, 2009 01:02 AM

The coward terrorist started this by killing innocent woman and children of Israel first. Moreover, the global populace is tired of the terrorist and their sympathizes and their babble.
I applaud Israel for protecting themselves and retaliating against the terrorist.
You quote a few thousand protesters, over millions and millions of law abiding citizens and people from around the globe. I have a solution, why don�t the protesters go back to where they came from to stop the rocket attacks that killed innocent Israel�s and then they may speak and place blame.
Stop making excuses and portraying these coward terrorist as victims and hold them responsible. If the so called innocent Palenstinians were so innocent, they would not assist the terrorist

R · January 4, 2009 01:05 AM

The Israeli army commanders and pilots are a bunch of cowards who can only attack and kill defenseless people as they did in Lebanon and as they are doing in Gaza now.

They must be arrested and brought to justice in an international court of law for crimes against humanity. There will be justice. These piolts and their commanders are directly responsible for all the murders they are committing. "Following orders" wont be an acceptable excuse as it was not in the trials of Nazi military officers.

Joseph_USA · January 4, 2009 01:11 AM

.
The delusional insanity of the Left is frightening. Hamas are evil garbage, they must be eliminated. Then, if the rest of the 'Palestinians' really want peace they can give up their dream of destroying Israel, if not, they will never have peace.

Israel must destroy as much of Hamas as possible before the MSM and the idiots and ignorants whine loud enough for them to stop. They must only quit when they are ready.

For EVERY missile shot into Israel at least ONE missile should be returned to the area as close as possible to the shooter. Tit for tat. Every single missile should be returned. Period. Treat them like adults, if they kill, they will be killed. If they send missiles, they will receive them. That is the only way they will learn. Screw public opinion, force them to see the truth, or let them be damned.
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
hope your kids grow up

to strap bombs on babies
to kill other children

.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
form a terrorist country

then wish to be destroyed
by committing acts of war

.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
blame your failings on the Jews

for a few more thousand years
they are Earth's scapegoats

.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
give Israel away

to appease her enemies
dishonor America
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
.
Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
.
Help Stop Terrorism Today!
.
USpace

:)
.

USpace · January 4, 2009 01:46 AM

As long as Palestine continues to foster terrorism, I will continue to vote to remove the threat. Unfortunately, terrorists are idiots. And they'd rather die than settle for peace, so I will continue to kill them, until there are none left to terrorize. Those of you that don't understand are ignorant. Sometimes war is the only way, judgment comes swiftly to those who practice evil.

Jaan · January 4, 2009 01:58 AM

I hope Israel won't repeat the previous mistate and won't let Hamas people out alive, like they did with Hezbollah. All those Hamas terrorists and fashists have to get what they deserve.

Alex · January 4, 2009 02:03 AM

Not only is this war sad, but these responses back and forth are equally disheartening. The roots of conflict are found right here! I will defend the rights and the existence of Israel, as I will condemn the loss of innocent lives. The question is not who is right and who is wrong; rather the overwhelming question is how do we stop teaching hatred and revenge to our children? How do we break this cycle?

These cyclical conflicts will continue until we all take a stand against institutionalized hatred, let go of "eye for an eye" mentality; and take responsibility for the well fare of one another's children...whether they're Israeli, Palestinian, Darfurian, American, etc., etc.

djk · January 4, 2009 02:12 AM