Palestinians: IDF starts leaving Beit Hanoun

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Palestinians report IDF forces have started leaving Beit Hanoun city limits. In last six days, IDF carries out extensive operation in northern Gaza Strip during which 58 Palestinians killed, dozens arrested, and thousands interrogated. In light of operation's success, IDF expected to undertake operations of similar scope in other areas.

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The IDF has yet to make its final summation, yet senior officers in the Southern Command have stated that the operation significantly damaged the terrorist organizations operating in the northern Gaza Strip, particularly the Qassam infrastructure.

Upwards of 50 terrorists were killed in a series of aerial and land attacks carried out by the IDF during which at least eight Qassam cells – some before firing, and some after. The IDF forces discovered large stockpiles of weaponry among which were sophisticated explosive devices, unlike those already familiar to the IDF, marking the technological advancement of the terror organizations.

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The IDF notes that while the Qassam rockets have not completely been halted in the current operation, their frequency is expected to lessen soon. There are a number of additional areas in which the IDF is expected to carry out deep operations, mainly Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Ynet

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1. At the price of bloodshed

Then there is this one, which is interesting for Mr. Barghouti's theory as to what the Gaza operation was about.

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Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, a veteran leftist and member of the Palestinian parliament on behalf of an independent faction, explained on the Al Jazeera network that the Israeli operation has no real connection to the firing of Qassam rockets. According to Barghouti, Israel could have maintained the cease-fire, and in so doing stop the rocket fire, but it has not chosen to do so. The IDF raid on northern Gaza has, according to the Palestinians' interpretation, a clear political background. It is interesting to examine this background, even for those who absolutely reject such a viewpoint.

The explanation begins with the press conference called last Tuesday by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit. There he announced details regarding the deal that is developing with respect to releasing kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The deal is closely tied to the prospect of forming a Palestinian unity, or experts' government, and a renewal of the peace process based on the road map plan. The Egyptian minister was optimistic.

Egyptian officials have been awaiting the arrival of Khaled Meshal. The Hamas leader was meant last week to join his friend Imad al-Alami who, together with Egyptian General Omar Suleiman, prepared a draft of the agreement to release Shalit and the Palestinian prisoners. Everyone wanted to hurry and conclude the details of the deal before President Hosni Mubarak and General Suleiman left for China, Russia and Kazakhstan.

In the meantime Palestinian sources began to publish details concerning the identities of the prisoners who are about to be released. Apart from the women and youths, the group is primarily comprised of about 360 prisoners incarcerated in Israel since before the Oslo Accords. Most are defined as having "blood on their hands." One, the most veteran member of the group, is Said al-Ataba, who has been in jail since July 1977, nearly 30 years. Four additional men have been incarcerated for more than 25 years, and 13 more have been serving time in Israel for about 20 years.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/784082.html