Olmert: Israel at war in Gaza

[bemildred]

Read the "Rare Unity" part too, we may be seeing the end of the Fatah-Hamas split.

---

The latest offensive came as Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, said on Thursday that the country was at "war" against fighters in the Gaza Strip.

---

A PRC spokesman, in response to the killings, said: "It is too late for the enemy to try to stop our rockets, we have hundreds of rockets and they are ready to be fired at the Zionist settlements near Gaza Strip.

---

Olmert on Thursday vowed to force Palestinian fighters halt their rocket attacks.

"A war is going on in the south, every day, every night," he said.

"We cannot and will not tolerate this increasing fire at Israeli citizens ... so we will continue to operate, with wisdom and daring, with the maximum precision that will enable us to hit those who want to attack us."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4B39FAC5-8847-4E02-8771-EB2355C7175B.htm

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Let's hope something positive develops out of all the bloodshed. nt

[bemildred]

2. Sigh, yeah.

I am tempted to say something cynical about Annapolis or something here, but I think I'll skip it.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

3. I'm still trying to figure out why Abu Mazen bothered.

Seems like a lose-lose for him.

[bemildred]

4. I've been trying to figure that out for some time now.

Although it must be said that when you are in the middle of the whirl it's not so easy as when you are on the outside speculating about what "should" have been done.

I do not understand why the Israelis have done such a miserable job of helping him along either. I mean he's the one that wants to make peace, right? So why go out of your way to make him look like a stooge all the time?

But I think things are pretty much out of control now, there is nobody in charge, both Olmert and Abbas can be observed to give commands and orders and be ignored with impunity.

Edit: add Bush too, another "leader" with no followers.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

5. I think Israel's willingness to humiliate their "partner" speaks volumes

for the gov'ts desire for peace.