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Commentary;
IMRA’s Dr. Aaron Lerner notes that the current regime, the Olmert, Livni, Barak Troika are aiming to emulate, in Gaza, the Lebanon cease-fire model which columnist Caroline Glick recently described.
Dr. Lerner cites Roni Sofer’s report; Israel Examining International Treaty to Isolate Hamas which follows up his (Sofer’s) report of Sunday, noted on this blog, where he lists Olmert’s conditions to end the conflict.
Lerner comments;
There is a fairly straightforward explanation for PM Olmert’s interest in an international force: The Olmert-Livni team adamantly claims that the Second Lebanon War was a fantastic success because it concluded with the introduction of the grossly ineffective international force…. They thus see their reputations tied to the validity of using international forces.
But Lerner continues by citing;
The recent high profile discovery of rockets about to launch in South Lebanon was not the result of the efforts of the “hear no evil see no evil” international force that studiously avoids even inspecting areas that are most likely to have Hezbollah activity, but instead thanks to a Lebanese villager who discovered the rockets and brought them to the attention of the authorities.
Considering the premeditated blind-eye and deaf-ear paid by the UN international force to the above rockets which were aimed at and about to launch on Israel, as well as numerous Hezbollah violations of UN resolutions regarding international forces, such as this one cited in June, 2008 referring to massive Hezbollah war preparations in South Lebanon, it obviously constitutes suicide to bring any other force, besides IDF to secure and insure Israel’s southern border,regions and urban centers against terror. Anything less than Israeli forces charged with national security is premeditated dereliction of governance. MB
IDF: 80 Terrorists Killed in Ground Operation
Next Stage of Gaza Operation: ‘Root canal’ for Terror, by Hanan Greenberg (Ynet)
Excerpts;
According to the IDF, the forces are now facing their main mission – to conduct a ‘root canal’ treatment on the terror infrastructure in Gaza, and to search and destroy rocket launching pads and terrorists.
Military sources said that the clashes in the sector were expected to continue throughout the night and even escalate with dawn.
Seeking intelligence, bargaining chips
Another objective of the forces is to arrest Hamas operatives in Gaza and bring them for questioning in Israel. This is aimed to serve two purposes: Obtaining new intelligence from the detainees that could be used by the forces on the ground; and using the captives as bargaining chips in future negotiations.
The IDF has set up a facility near the Strip in which captives will be held and interrogated.
Golani Soldier Escapes Kidnap Attempt [on Sunday]
Likud MK Erdan: Block Arab Channels
Humanitarian Aid [sic] to Enter Gaza
Rechovot, Rishon L’Tzion May be in Rocket Range
IDF [Allegedly] Dents Hamas Rocket Attacks, by Hana Levi Julian (Israel National News)
IDF [Allegedly] Controls Most Rocket Launching Areas
IAF Hit 30 Targets Overnight, Ground Troops Advance
Summary of Overnight Activity (IDF Spokesperson)
[3] Rockets Fall near Ashdod, Kiryat Malachi, Yavneh
2 Rockets Hit Eshkol Region, 1 Strikes Sha’ar Hanegev; None Hurt
Two Kassams Launched at Sdot Negev
[20] Arab Youths [From Wadi Arah Area] Arrested for Throwing Rocks