IDF forces largely control Aza - there is no going in or coming out except through Israeli lines.
Yet, from Damascus - not Aza, but Damascus - a Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, insisted its conditions for a cease-fire remained the same — including a demand for an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and opening of the crossings.
"These are our demands and we don't accept any political movement that does not accept them," Mashaal said in a televised address from his headquarters Damascus.
"Now we are at the critical moments. There must be a cease-fire but it must meet our conditions," he said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_diplomacy
IDF fires on UN building
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is in the region to end the devastating offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers, demanded a "full explanation" and said the Israeli defense minister told him there had been a "grave mistake."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who met with Ban later Thursday, said the military fired artillery shells at the U.N. compound after Hamas militants opened fire from the location. Three people were wounded.
"It is absolutely true that we were attacked from that place, but the consequences are very sad and we apologize for it," he said. "I don't think it should have happened and I'm very sorry." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians
Can someone explain how the "neutral" UN can host "militants" and allow them to use the UN facility to fire on the IDF?
Can someone tell me how using the UN as a shield is any different than when the "militants" (PLO or Hamas) used a Catholic church as a shield?
This is not to suggest that the IDF artillery should target hospitals and schools - G-d forbid that the IDF should take a leaf from the PLO/Hamas book - but think back to World War II. The US dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities - one apparently with no military value - in order (the government claimed) to prevent loss of Allied lives.
In return for the Nazi's attacks on English cities, the US Army Air Force fire bombed Dresden.
The IDF has, in the past, been pretty careful with its fire (and still was criticized). Funny how the world was silent when Hamas repeatedly fired rockets at Israeli villages and now cities.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the fighting in Gaza has been "a great lesson for all," saying it shows "the absolute defeat and desperation of this (Israeli) regime."
He says that "even for the supporters of the occupying regime and its leaders, it has become clear that the continuation of the Zionist regime's life in the region is not feasible." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090115/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_diplomacy
It seems that this "gentleman" enjoys rattling his nuclear sword, but knows that if he uses it, the Middle East will become an atomic wasteland. Would he mind murdering his Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Jordanian cousins? Probably not - and that makes him all the more dangerous.
Perhaps part of his bravery comes in knowing Israel almost has its hands full with Hamas in the south and the rocketeers in the north.
Can Israel afford to let any Hamas remnant remain in Aza?
Unless it is totally wiped out - no easy task - Hamas will claim victory and return to making rockets to fire at Israeli villages and towns. The loss of lives - on both sides - will have been in vain. Will the residents of Aza tolerate that? Did they tolerate Hamas before Israel retaliated?
If Hamas is weakened, will the residents of Aza seize power from Hamas? My hope is "Yes," but my suspicion is "No."
Editorial cartoons in US papers seem generally aware of Hamas' use of human shields. For a sampling, go to http://www.mideasttruth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8870
Yohanon
Yohanon.Glenn @ gmail dot com
No comments:
Post a Comment