Israel threatens respose to militant rockets

[bemildred]

JERUSALEM – Gaza militants launched two rockets and a mortar shell into southern Israel early Sunday, drawing a threat of ``disproportionate" retaliation from Israel's prime minister and further straining a cease-fire that ended Israel's Gaza offensive.

There were no casualties, though one projectile landed near a kindergarten in a community near Gaza, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Warning sirens sent residents scrambling for shelter.

The Israeli offensive was aimed at halting years of rocket attacks, and the military declared a cease-fire on Jan. 18 after declaring its goals had been achieved.

But Sunday's rockets, which followed sporadic rocket fire and the killing of an Israeli soldier in a border bombing attack last week, illustrated the difficulties of achieving a complete end to the attacks. Despite years of efforts, Israel's high-tech military has failed to stop the projectiles.

http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/580609

[bemildred]

1. Israel issues threat as Hamas considers ceasefire

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In the interim, Mr. Olmert, under pressure for a strong reaction to sporadic rocket attacks, told his Cabinet, "If there will be firing on residents of the south, there will be a strong Israeli reaction that will be disproportionate."

"We will act according to new rules that ensure we will not be dragged into an incessant shoot-out that prevents us from living normal lives in the south," he said.

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Olmert's comments were made on a day four rockets were fired across the border from Gaza into Israel and an Israeli army patrol was fired upon along the border fence. There were no injuries in any of the incidents but one of the rockets fell near a nursery school in the western Negev Desert.

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The growing feeling in Israel is that the Gaza operation ended with uncertain results despite the devastating use of firepower used. Miss Livni and other government leaders had promised it would lead to a new reality on the ground, something the continued rocket-fire seems to dispute.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4422488/Israel-issues-threat-as-Hamas-considers-ceasefire.html

[azurnoir]

7. I guess being known as a peace maker is bad PR

for Israel's PM candidates.

[bemildred]

13. You don't want to be "weak". Being a peacemaker is good, and long as you look "strong".

And looking "strong" comes way ahead of looking like a peacemaker. So it's a question of priorities. The fact that looking "strong" has zero chance of bringing about peace is not relevant.

[bemildred]

2. Hamas: Olmert seeking to scuttle Gaza truce deal

Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu on Sunday accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of trying to scuttle an Egyptian-brokered truce in Gaza. He was referring to a threat by Olmert of a "fierce and disproportionate" response if Gaza militants continued to launch rocket attacks against southern Israel.

"This is an attempt to find a false excuse to escalate the aggression against the Palestinians, to destroy the Egyptian efforts to improve the calm, and to use pressure against the Palestinian people to accept Israeli conditions in those talks," Sky News quoted Nunu as saying.

Olmert's statement at the start of Sunday's cabinet meeting came as Palestinian militants fired at least four Qassam rockets and four mortar shells from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev on Sunday, with one rocket striking in between two kindergartens.

Nunu was quoted as adding: "We condemn the statements by Olmert and others today threatening the Gaza Strip."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1060600.html

[Vegasaurus]

3. I think there should be a response

Every rocket fired gets a response from Israel.

Sooner or later, they will get the message.

Ill behaved children also learn to tow the line when they are properly disciplined.

[azurnoir]

4. Hmmm so the proper punishment for ill behaved children

is killing them?

[Vegasaurus]

5. Who said killing?

You really are inane.

[azurnoir]

6. What was Israel's last strong responce?

that speaks for itself and your name calling does little to hide your denial of the truth. oh and BTW the actual quote your parroting was kindergartners not children

[Hugabear]

9. I don't think Israel is responding with Nerf rockets

Israel killed over a thousand Palestinians last time, hundreds of which were civilians.

It's pretty safe to say that when Israel retaliates with more bombing, there will be more deaths.

[subsuelo]

12. It's not "killing", remember

It's justified self-defense humane terrorist-fighting collateral damage responses, all made with heavy hearts and extreme reluctance.

[ohio2007]

8. Israel threatens response to new militant rockets

JERUSALEM – Gaza militants launched rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel on Sunday, wounding three Israelis, drawing a threat of "disproportionate" retaliation from the prime minister and further straining a cease-fire that ended Israel's Gaza offensive.

snip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians
Looks like Hamas wants to punish Israel with disproportional world condemnations

[azurnoir]

10. Hamas ?

A wing of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group belonging to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, said it fired some of the rockets, but not all were claimed.

It says not all rockets note it does not say not all of today's rockets But I do not suppose Fatah would have any reason to want Israeli bombing in Gaza to continue or maybe it was that Iranian al Qaida group that was toute la fureur earlier this week

"The government's position was from the outset that if there is shooting at the residents of the south, there will be a harsh Israeli response that will be disproportionate," Olmert, who is not a candidate, said at the weekly cabinet meeting.


http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE5100OY2009...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x257096

[Idealism]

11. With all the Arab-hate going on, its hard to see straight I guess

[ohio2007]

14. The journalist omits the word "Hamas" and a new group "Gaza militants" has now become responsible

but, the same 'alleged' group wouldn't allow rogue activity without giving express written consent to any Gaza militant to deflect blame upon in the name of peace lol

[Idealism]

15. What exactly are you trying to say?

"Hamas has not taken responsibility for the new attacks, which have been claimed by smaller militant groups."

So... yeah, Hamas didn't launch these. And you post that ignorant nonsense after clearly not reading the entire article. Ironic, given that the post you were replying to was about blind hatred by some of Arabs. :eyes: