Truce! But don't hold your breath just yet...
13,000 members of PA security force deploy in Gaza to prevent Qassam fire
By Avi Issacharoff, Aluf Benn, Jack Khoury and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents and Agencies
Palestinian Authority security forces began deploying along the Gaza Strip's border with Israel on Sunday, in order to prevent Palestinian militants from firing Qassam rockets at Israel in violation of a newly implemented cease-fire.
A short time earlier, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ordered the heads of Palestinian security forces to ensure that Gaza militants respect the truce, Palestinian officials said.
Three Qassam rockets hit Israel in the first few hours after a truce between Israel and Palestinian militant factions in the Gaza Strip went into effect, causing no damage or injuries. Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel would display "patience and restraint" in the face of Palestinian violations of a cease-fire that went into effect earlier in the day.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said all major militant factions in the Gaza Strip had reaffirmed their commitment to the truce, Reuters reported.
"Contacts were made with the political leaderships of the factions and there is a reaffirmation of the commitment of what has been agreed to," Haniyeh said.
The military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for continued Qassam rocket fire on Israel in the hours after the truce took hold.
Speaking at a high school in the Bedouin town of Rahat, Olmert said that Israel must give the truce a chance and pledged that "the government of Israel will not miss this opportunity for calm." Full article here
posted by Gert @ 5:59 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Gert: this points, once again, to Kadima's lack of leadership. Moreover, while Israel should be striking at the Hamas gov. and taking no prisoners at it,its harkening to the Gentile world. Now, with all due respect this world was never pro-Israel and likely never will be so my question to you is why do you think Israeli leaders keep to the same policy of appeasement?
Hi Greg:
History shows that resistance or guerrilla movements (or whatever you prefer to call them) are almost impossible to beat with military means alone. That is what the lessons of Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Iraq (II), Lebanon (II) and Afghanistan teach us. The idea that it's possible somehow to kill or capture all insurgents is an illusion, a mirage as fleeting as reflecting images on hot desert floor.
With "appeasement" this has nothing to do; with realism, everything.
Ultimately a solution for the conflict will have to be found: another 5 decades of futile warfare, in a war that cannot be won by either side, would be extremely damaging for both sides and even for the wider Middle East.
No perfect solution to such conflicts exists but a long-term cease fire and resumption of meaningful negotiations would be a good starting point. The longer it is postponed, the more a chance for a just peace slips from our grasp.
Gert: I'm not one for keeping Israeli forces in Gaza. This would, in all likelihood, prove futile. The Palestinians deserve a better life than anything they can get with Israel in control of all the West Bank and Gaza. What I'd like to see is coordinated military action every time anyone--whether Hamas or Fatah or Jihad strike at Israel. I'd like to see us retaliate--not sit there and wait till someone bails us out.
Now I realize that if we retaliate so will they but is there anything else we can do and maintain not only our dignity but status as an independent Jewish State?
Concerning my notion of "appeasement", it just hurts to see any Western(ized) nation taken prisoner by its own (weak) politicians. You know I've often critisized Sharon but he'd never put up with what's going on now.
Take care for now. Will be in touch,
Greg.
Hi Greg:
As ever I remain at a loss as to your view on a solution of the conflict.
You make it clear you don't believe in Arab transfer, but don't accept a two-state solution either.
I'm sure you would be opposed to a one-state solution (Israel including Gaza-Judea-Samaria) with equal rights for Arabs (as Israeli Arabs), a solution which of course is also not acceptable to most Palestinians.
So what would be your solution?
Gert,
My solution would to re-"occupy" most of the West Bank and giving the Palestinians some type of atonomy. They would not be entitled to bare arms or self-govern but they would not officially be under Israeli jurisdiction. All terrorists, from the thugs on the streets to the "diplomats" such as Abu Alla would face a death sentence.
BTW: I wonder why Israel still has no death sentence and think it would be a big help in reducing terrorism in the region. Avigdor Lieberman, an Israeli politican I actually respect, has endorsed making the death sentence the punishment for terror.
It's rather unclear to me how the death sentence could deter people who are willing to die for their cause in the first place.
The death sentence has no place in civilised society, IMHO.
You also sound just a tad confused: Lieberman is in favour of Arab transfer and here was two planks thinking you weren't!
No, Gert. I'm not in favor of transfer. Lieberman's favors a phase in which the Jewish population of the West Bank would be transfered to pre-'67 Israel and the Arab population of pre-'67 Israel would be transfered to P.A.-controlled territory. That isn't the transfer which you've referred to, is it???
As for the death penalty why doesn't it have place in civilized culture. I think it does more to prevent criminals from commiting murder.
"As for the death penalty why doesn't it have place in civilized culture. I think it does more to prevent criminals from commiting murder."
It's an old argument, I guess. As far as I know from most studies it shows that CP has hardly any deterrent capacity. And "terminal miscarriages of justice" do also happen...
gert: Yes. "Terminal miscarriages of justice" do take place but they are the exception--not the rule. And I do think the DP has plenty of deterence value.But what are you basing your argument on?
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