Netanyahu Warns, Bush Urges and War Intensifies

Netanyahu warns return to '67 will put Tel Aviv in range of rockets

Netanyahu warns of the consequences of implementing decisions agreed to by Olmert and Barak.  He warns that their policies will lead to Katyushas raining down on the center of Tel-Aviv. The Grad-Katyushas have a potential range of 20 km from Gaza. They already reach Ashkelon. Add a launch site in the heart of Israel (Samaria) and there aren't many major population centers that won't be within range and targeted.  That's obviously not news to the terrorists. 

US President George W. Bush calls Israeli building in disputed areas  an impediment  

[Katyushas are apparently not an impediment]

Bush warns of dire consequences if Israel does not tear down more small towns in Judea and Samaria, expansions of older towns, disperse all the Jews there and give the land to Western- and Arab-armed terrorists groups -- Fatah AND Hamas. This continued pressure was restated in advance of Bush's upcoming trip to Jerusalem,  regardless of the escalation and visible consequences of the destruction of the Jewish towns and removing of all Jews from Gaza.

Bush did add that he would not let a future Palestinian state become a base for attacks on Israel, quoted by Yediot Ahronot news agency as saying, "I won't lend a hand to the establishment of a terror state on the borders of Israel."  How he expected to prevent it as missiles flew from Gaza into Sderot, the Negev and north of Ashkelon.  

Meanwhile instead Qassams, new and improved Katyushas fall ever closer to Tel-Aviv.

Meanwhile Egypt broke recent commitments and allowed the so-called "returnees" from the Haj to enter Gaza freely through Rafiah Crossing. 

Many of these so-called returnees didn't spend their time circling the Mosque or throwing rocks at the Devil; they went on to Tehran for weapons and warfare training, picked up cash and armaments, and other terrorists who "returned" to Gaza along with them. President Mubarak of Egypt had promised Israel's Defense Minister Barak two weeks earlier that the pilgrims would have to enter Gaza through an Israeli crossing, thus coming under Israeli scrutiny.  This commitment was not honored.  Egypt for the 2nd time in the last few weeks responded aggressively to an Israeli charge that it is actively assisting Hamas in its effort to increase the flow of arms, cash and trained terrorists into Gaza.

January 3rd, 2008 

IDF SPOKESPERSONS ANNOUNCEMENTS

The following is a summary of the main events today, in which ten Palestinian gunmen were hit by IDF forces in the Gaza Strip:

IDF forces from the Infantry Corps, the Armored Corps and the Combat Engineering Unit, with the assistance of the Air Force, operated in the southern Gaza Strip since last night. The aim of the operation was to distance terrorist organizations-particularly Hamas-from the security fence, and to operate against the firing of Qassam rockets and mortar shells into Israel.

Armed gunmen approached IDF forces and opened fire at them at several instances in clashes that erupted during the activity. The forces responded with fire both from the air and from the ground. Seven gunmen were killed consequently.

During the day the IDF targeted four Islamic Jihad and Hamas terror organizations' structures in the Gaza Strip: An Islamic Jihad weapons warehouse in Gaza city, an Islamic Jihad terror operative's structure in the central Gaza Strip, a Hamas structure in the southern Gaza Strip and a Hamas post in the southern Gaza Strip. The attacks were carried out following the continuous firing of rockets and mortar shells into Israel, including the 122 mm Grad type Katyusha that hit the city of Ashkelon this morning. This is the farthest location in Israel that a rocket launched from Gaza has hit.

During the afternoon, Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an IDF force in the area of the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip, using anti-tank missiles and small arms. The force responded with fire and identified hitting the gunmen.

Throughout the day, Palestinians fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel over 25 mortar shells, six Qassam rockets and one Grad Katyusha.

Throughout the week approximately 30 militants were hit by IDF forces.

January 3rd, 2008

IDF SPOKESPERSONS UPDATE

Regarding the incident earlier today in which civilians got hurt, the IDF Spokesperson wishes to clarify:

Armed gunmen entrenched themselves in a house near IDF forces that were operating against terror threats in the southern Gaza Strip. The gunmen fired heavily at the forces, from within the house, using several anti-tank missiles and small-arms. The forces responded with tank fire towards the sources of fire, killing two armed gunmen and apparently two Palestinian women who were with the gunmen in the house at the time. The IDF wishes to clarify that the responsibility for the death of the Palestinian women lies with the gunmen, who operated intentionally from a civilian environment.