CNN: Israel 'all-out war' on Hamas; freezing diplomatic relations with PA

[gp]

Israel vows 'all-out war' on Hamas
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel on Monday declared an "all-out war" against Hamas and said it is freezing diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority unless the Palestinian leadership takes "tangible steps to deal with infrastructures of terror."

Following an Israeli Cabinet meeting, a statement cited Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as saying the August 19 bus bombing in Jerusalem had "broken the track that was supposed to give the diplomatic process a chance."

Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 21 people.

The Israeli statement came as Israeli military helicopters fired missiles at members of Hamas on Monday in Gaza City.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/01/mideast/index.html

[kysrsoze]

1. Once again, things going very well in Israel

Now we can thank Bush et al for finally bringing peace to the M.E.

[Julien Sorel]

2. In other words...

Israel has continued expanding the settlements and continued assassinations, but the Palestinians are expected to unilaterally crack down on Hamas, in the complete absence of Israel's movement towards peace. And the American media will swallow this whole, too.

[mmm]

5. the full scale pogrom has started

this is a very sad day for the world

[kysrsoze]

9. Bingo! You hit the nail right on the head.

[mike_c]

3. personally, I suspect that this is what the hardliners in the Likud...

...have wanted all along-- an excuse for a ground war in the occupied territories, during which the "Palistinian problem" can be solved once and for all. The international press will be excluded, the phone lines cut, broadcasts out of the occupied territories jammed, and an awful lot of "suspected militants" will be killed, along with an extremely high number of "regrettable" civilian deaths. Ethnic cleansing ME style....

[ixion]

4. that won't be so easy...

There are many more Palestinians then there are Israelis, even though the latter have better armaments. If LIKUD goes ahead with this, it's going to be very ugly, IMHO.

[NaMeaHou]

6. Blowing up that bus was the stupidest thing they could have done.

It's not out of character, but, don't they care about their peoples chances for survival? They are being slowly starved, bulldozed, poisoned, and isolated. Did they really need to call attention to their plight (again during a fragile time) now? In this manner? The Palestinians are the worlds biggest pawns, and it needs to change. I am at a loss currently how to feel about this and the retaliation. There have been opportunities for peace squandered by both sides, and I am just sickened by it all. Reading about Rachel Corrie a few weeks ago started my mind to turning. I don't know what to think anymore.

[Julien Sorel]

7. Whether they blew up the bus or not doesn't matter.

Israel has been expropriating their lands with terrorism and without it for decades. Terrorism is a sideshow, an excuse used by Israel to deflect criticism and throw people off the trail. Whatever the Palestinians do or don't do will not change Israel's core policies, which have been zealously pursued by every government of every stripe Israel has had.

[psychopomp]

16. A cold invective

No matter how you see the conflict, you must not be so aloof to human suffering. Death and maiming is not a "sideshow."

[kysrsoze]

10. I think it was effective for awhile, but not anymore

I don't condone it, but given the disgusting brutality of the Israeli govt. beginning in 1948 and continuing to this day, I don't think people felt they had a choice. They had to fight back. However, this was most definitely an inappropriate time. As much as I despise the underhanded continuance of expanding settlements, it's probably not the right time to continue the suicide bombing.

Unfortunately, it looks like it's all going to hell now. Both sides aren't going to back down.

[Kbowe]

13. Who were "they?" More than one group claimed responsibility

Who was it really?

And after dozens of assassinations from bombs afar off, what to you expect the Palestinian supporters to do?

If this were any other country but Israel, the US would have invaded and taken over long ago.

[RainDog]

8. can there be more bad news in the M.E. this week?

you know, those terrorists from Yemen and S.A. who are in Iraq might hear this news and find the borders in Jordan are porous too.

I have to stop following the news, I think, because I feel like I'm watching the biggest train wreck in history unfold before my eyes.

Time to hunker down and make some jam and listen to Gillian Welch.

I cannot stand to see these things happen and feel so hopeless to change the course of events.

[kysrsoze]

11. This has been brewing for a long time and unfortunately, it's looking

to me like all-out "real" war is getting closer by the day. The arabs are starting to join forces against the US/Israel. It's going to be bad.

Anybody know where that cartoon simulation of this war's likely outcome is? I can't remember, but now that this is all happening it looks like it's not that far off anymore.

[lindashaw]

12. Has our President said ANYTHING about this?

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. I sure he's proud has a peacock

His Roadmap to Hell is right on schedule.

I imagine, Pat Robertson and his CC are packing their bags for the Rapture as we speak. Here's a taste of Robertson & Co's vision for the future. Keep in mind, these people see war against the arabs has the only way to accomplish their goals.




http://cbn.org/CBNNews/News/030801e.asp

Reclaiming the Temple Mount, in God’s Time

JERUSALEM — Thursday, August 7, marks the ninth of Av on the Hebrew calendar. It is the day when Jews worldwide, remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the earth. Today, the area where these Temples were built is an important holy site to Jews, Christians and Moslems. But only Moslems are allowed to visit, pray, and worship there.

Many Israelis long for the day when all Jews will return to their homeland of Israel, and to this site where they believe the Temple will be rebuilt. The ninth of Av is a national day of mourning and a bitter reminder that Jews cannot meet God in this holy place. While Jews and Christians were allowed brief visits to the Mount in June and July, they were accompanied by a police escort.

<snip>

The Temple Mount is also remembered in the Tenach (Old Testament) as the traditional place where Abraham brought his son Isaac to be sacrificed, but the Lord provided a ram instead, and Isaac's life was spared. For many Christians, the area takes on additional meaning, because it is the place where they believe Jesus will return. Adams commented about how significant the Mount was to him, as it is to Christians and Jews worldwide. "The Old Testament is my Bible, too, and I believe everything in it, just as much as the New Testament. And what it says about that place is important to me. I think absolutely Christians should be allowed to go up there."

Today, there are many Bible-believers who are concerned that Moslems are taking over the Temple Mount area. Adams referred to scriptures that speak of Zion being the Lord's dwelling place. "I don't really think that God is too worried about the present buildings that are there, and the false worship that takes place there. I believe His presence is there." Adams has concluded that someday the Moslem sites will be gone. His daughter Lisa reminded him of the scripture that says, "I will set My King on My holy hill."

[kysrsoze]

15. "Oh, and by the way, damn those Jews to hell when they finish helping us."

How can this situation not continue to worsen?

[gmoney]

17. Don't think it can get worse?

Bush comes back from vacation tomorrow...