Israel halts air raids, assassinations

[bemildred]

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have agreed to meet soon and improve cooperation as Israel suspended an offensive following a halt to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

Their first telephone conversation in more than five weeks could help put peacemaking back on track after a surge of violence that damaged hopes stirred by Israel's 12 September withdrawal from Gaza to end 38 years of military rule.

Abbas called Sharon with greetings for the Jewish New Year, which starts at sundown on Monday. Sharon expressed best wishes for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, starting this week.

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Also on Sunday, Israel Radio reported that an Israeli regional commander had found soldiers who shot and killed a Palestinian youth at fault since their lives were not endangered.

al Jazeera

[SteppingRazor]

1. Awww.... how big of Israel.

Who was it that said terrorism is the war of the weak, war the terrorism of the powerful?

On the other side of the coin, I can see taking out terrorist leaders -- why not whack Osama, after all? But it becomes mushy ground when the terrorist leaders are also the political leaders. Who is there left to negotiate with when the political leaders have been targeted for assassination?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. It becomes mushy ground when you can't define terrorism.

The Palestinians are no different from any other group that has fought for their independence against a much stronger and oppressive occupier. That includes colonial Americans.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Noam Chomsky pointed out in his last book...

That, while we have a definition of terrorism in the Army War Manual, it's not often cited, because the definition of counterterrorism is so remarkably similar.... nobody likes a hypocrite, yeah?

[pelsar]

4. oh...

like shooting 40 rockets into israel after israel pulls out is not an act of war?...guess not....doesnt count...cause it came from the palestenains trying to kill israeli civilians

[bemildred]

5. Oh come on, isn't it nice we can all be friends again?

Let's let bygones be bygones.