Barak, Livni, Olmert at loggerheads over exit strategy of Gaza operation

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Israel's three top cabinet ministers cannot agree on the best way to end the military operation in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak want to reach a deal, with the help of the United States and Egypt, that will guarantee long-term quiet in the south and keep Hamas from getting stronger. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni prefers to end the operation now, without an agreement.

Meanwhile, Barak ordered the Israel Defense Forces yesterday to get ready for a significant expansion of its activities in Gaza, which would focus on bringing reserve forces into the enclave. The preparations for the next phase of Operation Cast Lead are underway as the government considers Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's cease-fire proposal. The decision about whether to expand the Gaza operation will be made over the next few days, political sources in Jerusalem said. In the meantime, the political-security cabinet decided yesterday that military activity will remain at its current level and humanitarian aid to Gaza residents will be expanded.

Reserve units called up Sunday are due to complete their preparatory training today.

Amos Gilad, who heads the Defense Ministry's political-security bureau, is due to go to Cairo today to discuss producing new security arrangements that would end weapons smuggling from Sinai to Gaza.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053597.html

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1. U.N. Council remains divided on Gaza text

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council was divided over how to approach the Gaza crisis on Wednesday, failing to agree either a resolution or a statement to press for a cease-fire.

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Council member Libya has proposed a resolution urging an immediate cease-fire but it is opposed by the United States and others who say it is anti-Israeli. France, the United States and Britain have proposed a less formal statement.

Arab governments have urged the Security Council to act to end the crisis, saying its credibility is at stake.

"There is no unanimity today on either of those texts and because we want to go forward in a common approach we have decided to continue our talks and our negotiations," Ripert told reporters outside the council.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKTRE50678P20090107

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. Soo we can't agree to stop killing humans, how sad. Just stop !

[IndianaGreen]

3. I think that Israel's version of the Three Stooges should travel to The Hague

and ask the International Crimes Court to make a determination as to how to exit from their current predicament.

In for a penny, in for a pound!

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4. IDF sources: Conditions not yet optimal for Gaza exit

Senior Israel Defense Forces officers expressed doubt Wednesday over whether military efforts alone could bring regime change in the Gaza Strip, and said the army is far from achieving optimal conditions in the Strip to implement an exit strategy.

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Physically gaining control of the entire Strip or large portions of it, they said, will lead to Israel's taking responsibility for the area's civilian population, and Israel's international legitimacy would weaken.

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"We are far from the ability to implement the optimal exit strategy from the Gaza Strip. This places a complicated dilemma before the government," he said, adding that the IDF should in any case prepare for the possibility of either a large-scale operation or a comprehensive security arrangement with Hamas.

Russo also added, according to the official, that "when we look at the expectations of the operation and the ultimate situation in terms of cost and benefits, the conclusion will be not to embark on an operation before we look at the conditions for exit."

Hmmm. I could swear I've heard that sentiment before.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053587.html

[tekisui]

5. Exposing the foolishness of ever going in.

As bad as the air strikes are, the ground invasion is a set up for failure. No good options once you go in without a clear objective.

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6. Who could have predicted this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=124&topic_id=228696&mesg_id=231181

[excess_3]

7. I wouldn't take this story at face value ..n/t