Posted on 02/10/2008 6:24:40 AM PST by maquiladora
"Anger is no plan of action. We will carry on as before,” the prime minister told the ministers meeting in Jerusalem.
After two brothers were seriously injured by one of the 39 missiles to hit Sderot and its environs Friday and Saturday, hundreds of protesters from the town were stopped by police from reaching defense minister Ehud Barak’s Tel Aviv home Saturday night. Barak visited Sderot early Sunday to be accused of responsibility for the town's ruinous plight.
Overnight, doctors amputated one of the crushed legs of 8-year old Osher Twita, who is still unconscious, and operated on his older brother Rami. Their mother and a third brother were among the 11 shock victims. Serious damage was caused homes in Sderot and Netiv Ha’asara greenhouses.
As Sderot citizens set out Sunday to protest outside the cabinet office in Jerusalem, ministers and lawmakers demanded sweeping ground action, targeting of Hamas and Jihad Islami leaders and tighter economic sanctions against Gaza.
Sderot leaders said that if "a strategic military operation" continues to be withheld to stem the missile assaults, whose accuracy is improving, the town must be evacuated.
So far, Olmert has barred both options. He takes off for Berlin later Sunday despite ministers’ demands for him to reschedule his trip and take charge of the missile crisis.
Overnight, Israel carried out four air strikes against Palestinian metal workshops in Gaza City and Rafah and a Hamas arms depot.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report: Ehud Barak has more than once threatened firmer and broader military action to stop the missile blitz from Gaza. So far he and the prime minister have kept the military on a tight leash.
Israeli ground forces are restricted to areas 2 km inside Gaza, usually in the north, whereas the missile fire comes from the villages and camps deeper inside the enclave, which Israeli forces are ordered not to enter.
Thursday, an Israeli infantry unit discovered for the first time new underground silos for shooting missiles by remote control, making the launches and crews harder than ever to detect by air surveillance drones. Military sources believed they were installed with the help of the Lebanese Hizballah.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Defense Minister Ehud Barak was the one preventing the discussion on a military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Olmert said during the weekly cabinet meeting that Barak was afraid that the details of the discussion would be leaked to the media, allowing Hamas to prepare for a possible IDF operation. (Attila Somfalvi)
Question to freepers. If Isreal officially declares war on the Gaza strip, and the Palis attack Israeli civilian centers with rockets, can Hamas be charged with war crimes, and in the time of war, by international law, if one side bombs civilian centers can the other side retaliate? In World War II that was allowed (German and Japanese cities were bombed and firebombed). IMHO Israel should use their Air Force to bomb Gaza population centers in retaliation for the rocket attacks on Isreali civilian centers. No food, power, medicine and deadly precision attacks on the Gaza civilians, I think the Palistinians would sue for peace. Tough for an army to fight a war when their love ones are unprotected from enemy retaliation.
Hey Israel, keep following the appeasing lawyer and kiss your country adios.
FOOLS.
I'd be sending 78 or maybe 390 missiles in the other direction. Each a precision guided weapon targeted on the home of a Hamas official or member.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.