Saturday, December 27, 2008

Israel finally confronts Hamas




Analysis -Yaakov Katz

[T]he IDF's goal [was] to shock and awe Hamas with a blow the likes of which has not been seen in Gaza since the territory was conquered by Israel in 1967.

The bank of targets included all of the main Hamas military headquarters, outposts, training camps and weapons stockpiles.

The operation - called [Operation] Cast Lead - started off the way the IDF entered the Second Lebanon War on July 12, 2006.

The Israeli operation has three goals: to stop Hamas rocket attacks; to stop the smuggling of weapons from Egypt into Gaza; and to thwart Hamas military activity in the Strip. These are modest goals that do not include toppling the Hamas regime.
[Jerusalem Post]


PA 'ready' to take Gaza if Hamas ousted -Khaled Abu Toameh

Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah said that they were prepared to assume control over the Gaza Strip if Israel succeeds in overthrowing the Hamas government.

"Yes, we are fully prepared to return to the Gaza Strip," a top PA official [said]. "We believe the people there are fed up with Hamas and want to see a new government."

Another PA official said Fatah had instructed all its members in the Gaza Strip to be prepared for the possibility of returning to power. "We have enough men in the Gaza Strip who are ready to fill the vacuum," he said. "But of course all this depends on whether Israel manages to get rid of the Hamas regime."
[Jerusalem Post]

No comments: