Israel launches first airstrike on Gaza since June

[bkp1]

Nov 4, 11:23 PM (ET)


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israel launched an airstrike on Gaza early Wednesday after its troops clashed with Hamas militants who fired mortars into Israel, leaving six Palestinians dead. It was the first battle since a June truce mostly quieted violence in the volatile territory.

The Israeli army said the clashes erupted late Tuesday after its forces uncovered a tunnel in central Gaza that militants planned to use to abduct Israeli soldiers. It said a special army unit headed to the area to destroy the tunnel. One Palestinian was killed in fierce gunbattles that ensued.

Hamas then fired mortars across the Gaza border into southern Israel and Israel answered with the airstrike in the early hours of Wednesday, killing five suspected Palestinian militants, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. The army said the airstrike aimed at the mortar launchers and hit them.

The clashes threatened to unravel the cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups reached in June after months of indirect negotiations. The deal halted a deadly cycle of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli reprisals, though sporadic rocket attacks on southern Israel have persisted.



http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081105/D948I1AO0.html

[SoThankful]

I'm getting the feeling, now that Obama has won, Israel will hit Iran before Bush leaves office.

[JJW81867]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit if Iran is next on their radar....and very quickly while the US is still an ally.

[bkp1]

Next six weeks i'd bet, while the US is still an Ally.

[Reason&Hope]

Hamas will keep poking, poking, poking, wearying Israel for the time when Hezbollah strikes from Lebanon. They know we will do nothing.

[Jesuslover_2002]

I'm getting the feeling, now that Obama has won, Israel will hit Iran before Bush leaves office.

in total agreement.

[Beautiful Feet]

I don't think it is an accident that this is happening right now. The next few weeks are going to be very interesting.

[ReadyForDeparture]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit if Iran is next on their radar....and very quickly while the US is still an ally.

It is hard to not think this right now isn't it. However, I feel that Israel has to get it's government in order first in February. But, if Israel gets solid 100% proof that Iran has a nuclear weapon, then all bets are off and they will attack within 24 hours of that intelligence I feel.

I do however think we are in for a short spell of inaction on a major level in the ME. There will be sqirmishes and gun battles and the usual I feel, but no major development. Tensions will remain at a high level however.

In the meantime over here Obama will have his hands full with all kinds of issues. What if Hal Lindsey's reports of Russia possibly placing nuclear missles in Cuba again becomes a reality soon after Obama is in office? That would sure keep Obama busy for a short while anyway, until he gives in and lets them stay, which he would. He is no JFK.

So it may be quiet in the ME but busy on so many other fronts. Obama thinks he knows what he is going to do with his "agenda" that he snuck past the American people with the help of a stary-eyed media... but he will have trouble doing all he wants because the world is not as simple as he seems to think.

Remember his ridiculous comments in the summer "Take a look at Iran and North Korea on the map. They are tiny countries. They are not a threat to America" This absurd and totally ignorant (almost stupid) comment would usually result in a huge outcry from the media, but it just dropped off the media's radar very quickly, and on purpose. The media's actions during the campaign also defied logic, regardless fo their liberal slant. So Obama will get a real quick rude awakening once in office and I am certain he is not up to the task based on his previous statements. And do not say it will be OK because his advisors will help him. Watch those documentaries on the Cuban Missle Crisis again if you get the chance. I saw one last Monday. General LeMay was ready to attack and invade Cuba right away, which would have resulted in a world war breaking out. JFK's advisors were ready for blood. Thank heavens he did NOT listen to them but used his own instincts.

As the great actress Bette Davis says in "All About Eve" fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night"

Ready for Departure

[JY11]

I'm getting the feeling, now that Obama has won, Israel will hit Iran before Bush leaves office.

I have that same feeling....

[hostilebanana]

I'm getting the feeling, now that Obama has won, Israel will hit Iran before Bush leaves office.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3617987,00.html

It is hard to say with the way Olmert has been acting lately. It seems that he's trying to find a diplomatic resolution to problems (Syria, Palestine). Dividing Jerusalem is something that hes made clear in the past as something he thinks is 'inevitable'. It is hard to see what he's planning right now in all internal/external affairs.

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL01414065