Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and PhotosIsrael’s expected retaliation to Sunday’s attack by Palestinian insurgents is now in full swing in Gaza. The continuing military action, involving air and ground forces has so far caused considerable damage to the Palestinian’s already disastrous infrastructure, including causing severe damage to the PA’s only electrical power station, as well as knocking out two land bridges that has literally “cut Gaza in two”. The massive military action came as a result of a diplomatic impasse which has occurred concerning efforts to gain the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier, PFC Gilad Shalit. This impasse appears to have occurred despite a world wide effort to free the young soldier by negotiators in various world capitals, including Damascus Syria.
Though international statespersons, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have asked all sides in the conflict to “give diplomacy a chance”, it now appears that Israel, which has been massing it’s forces on the border with Gaza for days now, finally decided that enough is enough. Israeli P.M. Olmert, his Defense Minister Amir Peretz, as well as IDF General Commander Dan Helutz, now say that Israel will not negotiate with terrorists, and that no prisoner exchange will take place.
The abduction of Shalit, alleged to have been carried out by ‘right-wing’ members of Hamas, the very party which now rules the P.A., has resulted in his captors declaring that they will only release him within the framework of a general prisoner exchange involving numerous Palestinian prisoners, many with ‘blood on their hands’, being held in Israeli jails. To further complicate the entire bowl of ‘fruit salad’, another young man,from a settlement on the West Bank, is missing and alleged to have been kidnapped as well.
The militants holding Shalit issued statements that the soldier is alive, and that they are holding him “a secure place where the Zionests cannot reach”. During these actions, Palestinian launched Kassam missiles have continued to be launched at Israeli targets, including the nearby town of Sderot, injuring several people. Both European and American government officials are taking all of these events very seriously, as it now appears that there is virtually no chance whatsoever to restart any peace negotiations between the two sides, now literally at war. Israeli P.M. Olmert even declared that the “entire territory of Gaza is completely closed, from the Sea to all its Borders with Israel”.
Some ‘behind the scene’ negotiations are continuing, however, including those for a prisoner release. The critical question now is whether these efforts will succeed to gain PFC Shalit’s release, as well as to bring about a cease fire. No details have been released, and most likely will not be divulged due to fear for Salit’s safety.
Judging from all of these events, and in respect to actions taken by the Hamas-connected terrorists, it reminds many of a statement made once by the international arch terrorist, Carlos the Jackal, who said in regards to his alleged enemies: “Shit is thicker than blood – make shit out of them”. It now looks like the Israeli forces, anyway, are heeding his advice in regards to present dealing with their Palestinian ‘neighbors’.
One Comment
To kill a host, is not to kill a spirit. My tears and prayers are with and for all. Especially the Shalit family and the leaders on both sides. May the God of all Creation direct the thoughts of all and Bless all with calm.
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