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| Middle East |
| IDF retaliation restricted by Yom Kippur |
| 2003-10-04 |
| JPost Reg Req'd The lights were burning late on the second floor of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv Saturday night as IDF brass, security service heads and the Defense Minister weighed possible reactions to the Haifa suicide attack. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz convened the meeting after IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon held a previous assessment with top generals and prepared possible options for retaliation. The sense in the defense establishment was that no actions would be taken against Arafat and would focus on intensifying the crackdown on the terrorist groups. Defense officials said operational activity by the IDF is restricted due to Yom Kippur. Even though operational actions take preference over the religious holy day, it is difficult to see a major IDF action on this day which would require possible call up of reserves. Options being discussed are likely to include a return to an intensive policy of target assassinations, possibly against terrorist targets abroad such as Islamic Jihad leaders in Damascus. The army could also stage deeper raids into the Gaza Strip, but moves to recapture the coastal strip have lost their popularity among many senior commanders who fear such action does not have an adequate way out. In any case, the suicide bombing came as the IDF has been waging an intensive war on terrorist, targeting, arresting and sometimes killing the heads of various cells. The Islamic Jihad cells in Jenin and Hebron as well as the Hamas cell in Hebron have been the most seriously hurt. In particular it came after an intensive operation by the Golani Brigade in Jenin. Dubbed "Adjusting Sights," since the Hamas and Islamic Jihad declared the hudna or ceasefire over on September 18. During this period they recorded a number of major successes including the capture of two top IJ commanders last week. They also prevented any suicide bombing from emanating from the city while they were deployed there. But the Golani troops pulled out of the city a few days ago, leaving open the way for the suicide bomber to sneak into Israel and blow herself up in Haifa. The IDF has a draw full of plans to deal with Arafat and others. Dry runs have been staged over and over and the moment orders were given to remove Arafat it would take a few hours to implement it. Yet every step regarding the expulsion of Arafat needs to take into consideration that Arafat would be harmed and even killed. No on in the army is guaranteeing that Arafat would come out unscathed. But other ramifications are also being taken into consideration, such as rioting in the territories which would require a larger number of forces to quell or contain. I guess, as a San Diego/So. Cal Roman Catholic, that I don't truly understand the Jewish faith, but what I do know from study by admiration, seems to oppose suicide. Now is the time to retaliate, massively, and to build the most controversial sections of the fence, and let their critics be damned |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #1 Now is the time to retaliate, massively, and to build the most controversial sections of the fence, and let their critics be damned Exactly. This would be the perfect time for it. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-4 10:46:42 PM |