HAMAS ROCKET HITS ISRAEL AND ISRAEL RESPONDS
Randy L. Harrington
July 05, 2006
GAZA—Hamas terrorists running the Palestinian government hit the center of Ashkelon, Israel on Tuesday with a long range rocket, and Israel has expanded military operations against Hamas terrorists in the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
Hamas terrorists operating from the rubble of former Israeli settlements in northern Gaza fired a two-engine rocket that hit Ashkelon, Israel on Tuesday. The rocket traveled about 7.5 miles before it hit its target.
Generally, Palestinian terrorists use only single-engine rockets that have a range of no more than 5.6 miles, However, in recent months they have acquired some industrially manufactured Katyusha rockets with a range of about 13.7 miles.
Ashkelon is a city in Israel of about 115,000 people, and is the site of a major power plant. Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday that the rocket that hit Ashkelon was “an escalation without precedence.”
Israeli Labor Minister Isaac Herzog, who is a member of the Israeli Security Council sad in an interview that “We want to use an iron fist, but cautiously, with a lot of consideration, to meet two parallel objectives: a stop to the missiles and the safe release of Giliad Shalit; We're not trying to change the world or the political structure of the Palestinian Authority, but everyone affiliated with terror will not be let off.”
When asked if the Hamas government was affiliated with terror, in light of their statements that the political arm, and military arm of Hamas are two separate organization, Herzog replied “We see them as participating in terror. There is no difference between the political and military wings of Hamas, as they themselves say.”
The Hamas controlled Palestinian government, as well as its leadership in exile in Damascus claims that they have no control over the Hamas military that kidnapped Israel's Corporal Shalit on June 25. However, Sala Bardawil, a Hamas legislator for the Palestinian Authority said that he believed that further crisis could be avoided if Israel would agree to release Palestinian terrorists. Israel is adamant that they will not negotiate with terrorists.
Israeli intelligence claims that the Hamas military wing, which is among one of three groups holding the kidnapped Israeli soldier is taking its instructions from the exiled Hamas leadership in Damascus, that is headed by Khaled Mashaal, who is supported by Iran.
In response to Palestinian terrorists Israel has stepped up military operations in Gaza, and the West Bank. There have been armed conflicts in the northern Gaza settlement of Beit Hanoun, where Israeli troops and tanks have hit Palestinian terrorists hard. Overnight Israel fired missiles at the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza, which set off a large explosion that killed three people. This was the second time that Israel had hit the ministry building. Israel fired another missile that hit an empty school building in northern Gaza, that Israeli intelligence discovered was being used by Hamas at night. Islamic terrorists have been known to use hospitals, schools, and mosques for their terrorists activities, in hopes that enemies would hesitate to fire upon them.
Two suspected Palestinian terrorists were killed in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood when the explosives they were preparing suddenly exploded.
Israeli's have killed a leader of the Islamic Jihad against Israel, Abu Ahmed Dahdoub, along with one of his associates.
Israel has closed all crossings between Gaza and Israel, keeping the Erez crossing open that is used by journalists and diplomats.
Bardawil has admitted that the Palestinian government is not a real government, and perhaps should have not been recognized as an official state, because it has no budget. He said “A government that receives its budget as charity is not a real state.” Bardawil blamed Palestinians problems on Israle, and took no credit on behalf of the Palestinian Authority for a failure to build an infrastructure that would support an indepenent government.
Ben Peretz an Economics Professor and consultant with an international trade company said that "if the Palestinian government were to put an infrastructure in place which includes international trade, business, and money management, instead of worrying about their 'Zionist enemies' and conducting 'Jihad' that maybe the Palestinians could establish a credible, and viable state in the region."
It would appear that once and for all Israel will end any hopes of a relaistic, and credible Palestinian statehood in the region, and the Palestinians will once again face the inevitable that they cannot possibly be taken seriously when ruling their own affairs.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: UPI; ISRAEL POST; MUSLIM NEWS
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Hamas terrorists operating from the rubble of former Israeli settlements in northern Gaza fired a two-engine rocket that hit Ashkelon, Israel on Tuesday. The rocket traveled about 7.5 miles before it hit its target.
Generally, Palestinian terrorists use only single-engine rockets that have a range of no more than 5.6 miles, However, in recent months they have acquired some industrially manufactured Katyusha rockets with a range of about 13.7 miles.
Ashkelon is a city in Israel of about 115,000 people, and is the site of a major power plant. Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday that the rocket that hit Ashkelon was “an escalation without precedence.”
Israeli Labor Minister Isaac Herzog, who is a member of the Israeli Security Council sad in an interview that “We want to use an iron fist, but cautiously, with a lot of consideration, to meet two parallel objectives: a stop to the missiles and the safe release of Giliad Shalit; We're not trying to change the world or the political structure of the Palestinian Authority, but everyone affiliated with terror will not be let off.”
When asked if the Hamas government was affiliated with terror, in light of their statements that the political arm, and military arm of Hamas are two separate organization, Herzog replied “We see them as participating in terror. There is no difference between the political and military wings of Hamas, as they themselves say.”
The Hamas controlled Palestinian government, as well as its leadership in exile in Damascus claims that they have no control over the Hamas military that kidnapped Israel's Corporal Shalit on June 25. However, Sala Bardawil, a Hamas legislator for the Palestinian Authority said that he believed that further crisis could be avoided if Israel would agree to release Palestinian terrorists. Israel is adamant that they will not negotiate with terrorists.
Israeli intelligence claims that the Hamas military wing, which is among one of three groups holding the kidnapped Israeli soldier is taking its instructions from the exiled Hamas leadership in Damascus, that is headed by Khaled Mashaal, who is supported by Iran.
In response to Palestinian terrorists Israel has stepped up military operations in Gaza, and the West Bank. There have been armed conflicts in the northern Gaza settlement of Beit Hanoun, where Israeli troops and tanks have hit Palestinian terrorists hard. Overnight Israel fired missiles at the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza, which set off a large explosion that killed three people. This was the second time that Israel had hit the ministry building. Israel fired another missile that hit an empty school building in northern Gaza, that Israeli intelligence discovered was being used by Hamas at night. Islamic terrorists have been known to use hospitals, schools, and mosques for their terrorists activities, in hopes that enemies would hesitate to fire upon them.
Two suspected Palestinian terrorists were killed in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood when the explosives they were preparing suddenly exploded.
Israeli's have killed a leader of the Islamic Jihad against Israel, Abu Ahmed Dahdoub, along with one of his associates.
Israel has closed all crossings between Gaza and Israel, keeping the Erez crossing open that is used by journalists and diplomats.
Bardawil has admitted that the Palestinian government is not a real government, and perhaps should have not been recognized as an official state, because it has no budget. He said “A government that receives its budget as charity is not a real state.” Bardawil blamed Palestinians problems on Israle, and took no credit on behalf of the Palestinian Authority for a failure to build an infrastructure that would support an indepenent government.
Ben Peretz an Economics Professor and consultant with an international trade company said that "if the Palestinian government were to put an infrastructure in place which includes international trade, business, and money management, instead of worrying about their 'Zionist enemies' and conducting 'Jihad' that maybe the Palestinians could establish a credible, and viable state in the region."
It would appear that once and for all Israel will end any hopes of a relaistic, and credible Palestinian statehood in the region, and the Palestinians will once again face the inevitable that they cannot possibly be taken seriously when ruling their own affairs.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: UPI; ISRAEL POST; MUSLIM NEWS
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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