The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
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Commentary:
It is often said that “a picture speaks 1,000 words.” Well, often so do headlines. MB
Analysis: Trumpets of Victory Strike False Note, by Khaled Abu Toameh (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpt;
“Hamas believes that it won the war not only because its men ‘defeated’ the IDF and forced the tanks to retreat under fire, but also because the movement is still in power despite the massive military operation and the heavy damages and losses it incurred.”
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Commentary;
As reported here on Sunday, Hamas rocket attacks continued throughout Sunday into early evening with at least 14 rockets and at least 3 mortars striking Sderot, Ashkelon, near Netivot as well as Kiryat Gat as well as Eshkol, Sha’ar HaNegev and Sdot Negev regions.
As yet, there are no reports of rocket or mortar fire overnight on Sunday or on Monday morning (Read between the lines — the censor working overtime??).
And so Israel rushes to withdraw forces from Gaza in advance of the inauguration of a new US President.
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Commentary;
For context, last Thursday, this blog posted a piece; Gaza Operations: For Naught for Lack of Will to Win?
And so, these comments by Moshe Feiglin beare repeating as they best express the Israeli political governing mindset;
If Israel cannot define a real goal for this war, it cannot win. All the IDF’s professionalism and the arduous training with which the new Chief of Staff has equipped the army are ineffective if Israel’s leaders cannot define the goal of the fighting. He who cannot define the goal cannot win. And if you can’t win – it is best not to start fighting.
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Rocket Barrages Bit South [Beersheba, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat], by Yael Branovsky (Ynet)
Excerpts;
Two rockets exploded Saturday in open spaces in the Beersheba area – no injuries or damages were reported in the attack. The rockets were fired during the daily “humanitarian pause” declared by the IDF.
One Grad rocket landed in an open area in the Ashkelon area a short while after a siren was heard in the city. No injuries or damages were reported.
Meanwhile, a rocket also landed in the Kiryat Gat region. There too, no injuries or damages were reported. Other rockets landed in open areas across the south. Three mortar shells were also fired at the Negev.
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IDF Warns of Intense Rocket Fire [in South in Days Before Ceasefire]
Four Rockets Hit South [Open Areas of Eshkol Region]
IDF Kills Three [Hamas] Terrorists in Gaza
7 Palestinians Arrested During Overnight Operations in Gaza
Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam Dies in IAF Air Strike, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
IAF Hits 40 Gaza Targets [Thursday Night]
Summary of IDF Operations Overnight (IDF Spokesperson)
Three IDF Soldiers Lightly Wounded in Gaza Fighting
Livni Sets Out to US to Sign Deal [???] with on Preventing Smuggling [Will She Return With Jonathan Pollard? MB], by Herb Keinon (Jerusalem Post)
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Commentary:
The two editorials beneath say it all about the lack of will to win and lack of clearly defined objectives, goals and day-after plans by a corrupt political governance across the board which won’t let the IDF win — including Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, etc. .
In this context, Moshe Feiglin has written and spoken repeatedly;
If Israel cannot define a real goal for this war, it cannot win. All the IDF’s professionalism and the arduous training with which the new Chief of Staff has equipped the army are ineffective if Israel’s leaders cannot define the goal of the fighting. He who cannot define the goal cannot win. And if you can’t win – it is best not to start fighting. And if you have started fighting nevertheless, you quickly find yourself entrenched in the heart of Gaza in the worst of all positions: You can’t win; if you retreat you admit another defeat and a stalemate turns your soldiers into easy targets for kidnappers, suicide bombers and hate-filled murderers.
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Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam Dies in IAF Air Strike, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpts;
Siam was the Hamas political echelon’s liaison with the group’s military wing, and was responsible for the various security apparatuses in the Strip, including the police and the naval force.
Siam was considered a radical and was in contact with Hamas’s political leadership in Damascus. He was also considered close to Iranian officials.
Siam was one of the masterminds of Hamas’s violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.
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Three Katyusha Rockets Strike Open Areas Near Kiryat Shmona, [Three More Grads Live and Prepared to Launch Found in South Lebanon], by Brenda Gazzar (Jerusalem Post)
Terrorists Fire 16 Rockets at Israel [So Far on Wednesday]
Soldier Seriously Hurt [Wedneday PM] by Anti-Tank Missile in [in Northern] Gaza [ 6 Others Moderately Hurt], by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Grad Rockets Strike Beersheba and Yavne; None Hurt
Rocket Hits Sdot Negev; No Injuries
Rocket Hits Beersheba; No Injuries
3 Kassams Strike West Negev [Sha’ar HaNegev Region], Ashkelon
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IAF Strikes 50 Targets [Including 30 Smuggling Tunnels]
Nine Terrorists Killed, Two Soldiers Wounded
IDF Uncovers Tunnel Leading to Nahal Oz Fuel Terminal, by Hanan Greenberg (Ynet)
IDF Begins Heavy Shelling of Gaza City [Troops Continued Pushing Deeper into the Densely Populated Urban Center],by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpts;
Military sources said that the objective of Operation Cast Lead – the weakening of Hamas and the restoration of Israel’s level of deterrence – was not yet accomplished, and that Israel would continue its push into Gaza City in an effort to hunt down Hamas operatives and infrastructure.
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Hamas Raids Aid Trucks, Sells Supplies, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpts;
Security officials at Kerem Shalom thwarted an attempt to smuggle electrical goods, disguised as humanitarian supplies, into Gaza. The electrical goods included computers, infra-red cameras, ovens, microwaves and other electronic equipment.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has forbidden the entry of electronics to Gaza since the goods do not fall under the category of humanitarian aid. Some electronic equipment has been let in as per an official Palestinian request, such as equipment used to repair the damaged electrical grid in Gaza.