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2009-01-18 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

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Posted by mhw 2009-01-18 08:35|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 Update:

PALESTINIAN militants have announced a one-week ceasefire today after Israel called a unilateral halt to its massive offensive on Gaza, as medics pulled dozens of bodies from the rubble of bombed-out homes.

After exchanges of gunfire and an air strike punctured what Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acknowledged was a "fragile'' ceasefire, Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas and other armed groups said they would silence their guns for the next seven days to give Israeli troops a chance to withdraw from the territory.

"We in the Palestinian resistance movements announce a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and demand that enemy forces withdraw in a week and open all the border crossings to permit the entry of humanitarian aid and basic goods,'' Mussa Abu Marzuk, the deputy leader of Hamas's politburo, said in Damascus.

Dawud Shihab, a Gaza-based spokesman for Islamic Jihad, a smaller armed faction, said the truce will provide an opportunity for Arab governments to put pressure on Israel to withdraw all its troops.

"During this period, the resistance is ready to respond to all efforts by the Egyptians, Turks, Syrians and Arabs that will allow for a total withdrawal of Israeli soldiers and the total opening of border crossings,'' he said.

Posted by tipper 2009-01-18 09:21|| 2009-01-18 09:21|| Front Page Top

#2 "Hamas needs the lull," the sources said. "They have been hit hard and they have no choice but to comply."

Hit 'em hard again, damn it! Now is NOT the time to let up.

They want a one week cease-fire? And what then? Do they start with the rockets again? They didn't say, did they? All they say is that the Juice are supposed to withdraw. Screw 'em. No deal.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2009-01-18 10:45|| 2009-01-18 10:45|| Front Page Top

#3 Just heard on the TV news (CBS, I think. I was in the other room.) that there were rocket attacks this morning and Israeli officials admitted the cease-fire appeared to be "fragile". So what, exactly, was the object of Operation Cast Lead if not to stop the rockets?

Posted by Abu Uluque 2009-01-18 10:56|| 2009-01-18 10:56|| Front Page Top

#4 Sorry to appear so hawkish, here, I'm usually not. Really. And I'm quite positive the Israeli cabinet knows more than I do. But what is the point of starting a war and getting a whole bunch of people killed if you're not prepared to finish it? You might as well not start it at all and just resign yourself to the fact that these idiots are gonna fire their rockets from time to time.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2009-01-18 10:59|| 2009-01-18 10:59|| Front Page Top

#5 That was the purpose. But the cease fire allows The One to be inaugurated without media competition, an opportunity for him to condemn Hamas if they keep firing, and an excuse for Israel to resume in a week and go after Hamas once and for all, if they've got the stones. Think of a hudna that allows Israel to re-arm on the battlefield that really counts, American public opinion.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-01-18 11:04|| 2009-01-18 11:04|| Front Page Top

#6 Hamas Declares One Week ~~Cease Fire~~ Lull While They Re-arm

There - fixed.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2009-01-18 11:08|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2009-01-18 11:08|| Front Page Top

#7 The seven day period works to the advantage of Israel is several ways. It gives the IDF to do a lot of intel work. It gives Israel a chance to see if Egypt to assimilate some American technology and demonstrate tunnels detection. Furthermore with the IDF emplaced near Gaza city, Hamas isn't going to be able to do very much in the way of resupply (other than accessing some prepostioned material if they have any left).

Israel could also use this time to attach long term monitoring devices in Hamas tunnels, pre position remotely controlled explosives at key points, etc.

Posted by mhw 2009-01-18 11:42|| 2009-01-18 11:42|| Front Page Top

#8 This cease-fire is another proof that Olmert & Co are disgusting incompetents.

The Israelis are furious concerning this decision :

"2:48 PM Israel public opinion is against the "cease-fire". In a Israel TV Channel 2 poll conducted today, 64% of Israelis are against the cease-fire, 27% in favor, and 8% undecided."

Source : http://muqata.blogspot.com/

Posted by Leroidavid">Leroidavid 2009-01-18 11:45|| 2009-01-18 11:45|| Front Page Top

#9 Leroidavid - liking that Muqata site, eh?

Islamic University in Gaza: Anticipate a new Infrastructure Bond Offering in 2010. Heh. HT to Muqata

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2009-01-18 12:14|| 2009-01-18 12:14|| Front Page Top

#10 i heard Hamas say they would declare a cease fire not the israeiis, let them stop anf keep kicking their asses

Posted by rabid whitetail 2009-01-18 12:19|| 2009-01-18 12:19|| Front Page Top

#11 Yes, Frank G, "The Muqata" is a great site.

I like a lot the new decoration of this Islammic University in Gaza...

Posted by Leroidavid">Leroidavid 2009-01-18 12:21|| 2009-01-18 12:21|| Front Page Top

#12 interesting how there are no textbooks, no desks, nor school furnishings in the ~~wreckage~~ remodeling photos. Ima guessing "Kill The Jooooos" was pretty much the entire curriculum, along with minor courses offering "Kill Fatah too"

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2009-01-18 12:31|| 2009-01-18 12:31|| Front Page Top

#13 There were many other courses taught in this Islamic University :

- "How to shoot Fatah members in the legs" ;

- "How to rape Christian nuns" ;

- "How to kill young unmarried couples who are kissing in public" ;

- "How to behead the American-Zionazi Mickey Mouse" ;

- "What to do after you committed a suicide bombing, when you arrive to heaven and discover the 72 virgins are in reality 72 lustful boys" ;

and many others...

Posted by Leroidavid">Leroidavid 2009-01-18 12:47|| 2009-01-18 12:47|| Front Page Top

#14 "What to do after you committed a suicide bombing, when you arrive to heaven and discover the 72 virgins are in reality 72 treasurers of their high school dungeons and dragons club" ;

Posted by mhw 2009-01-18 16:24|| 2009-01-18 16:24|| Front Page Top

#15 News states Hamas has already launched 6/7 rockets into israel,, What 'cease fire'
seems to be israeli only, olmert is "Reconsidering".

Posted by Rednek Jim 2009-01-18 21:38|| 2009-01-18 21:38|| Front Page Top

#16 only right for olmert to be 'reconsidering'... i think the people are 'reconsidering' olmert and have been for a while.

Posted by Abu do you love 2009-01-18 23:30|| 2009-01-18 23:30|| Front Page Top

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