Hamas in quandary over Israeli soldier ~ Great picture

BBC ^ | Tuesday, 27 June 2006, 06:11 GMT 07:11 UK | Jeremy Bowen BBC Middle East editor

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Hamas in quandary over Israeli soldier

By Jeremy Bowen BBC Middle East editor

The crisis prompted by the abduction of an Israeli soldier adds to the many problems already facing Hamas in its new role as the elected government of the Palestinian people.

Feeling the heat: Ismail Haniya is under pressure from all sides

Involvement in the abduction will reinforce the view held by the European Union and the United States that Hamas remains a terrorist organisation.

Until the attack on the Israeli border post, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya was believed to have been close to accepting a document that would have implicitly recognised Israel.

Now Mr Haniya faces pressure from all sides and the prospect of a much deeper crisis than the one he was already in.

The original attack on Israeli soldiers in a tank will be seen as entirely legitimate by most Palestinians, not just by his own supporters.

And it will be backed by the Hamas leadership in exile in Syria.

Mr Haniya needs to find a way to end the crisis without looking as if he is doing Israel's work.

His best hope is some sort of prisoner exchange - but Israel, for now, says it will not give in to blackmail. And if the soldier is killed, Israel will take drastic action.

Olmert under pressure

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also pressing Mr Haniya to get the Israeli soldier released.

He believes that actions like raids and kidnaps are counter-productive. But he has his own problems.

If he cannot help to get the soldier out, his already slim chances of serious negotiations with Israel will go for the foreseeable future.

And it is also a major challenge for the Israeli government of Ehud Olmert.

Both Mr Olmert and his Defence Minister, Amir Peretz, are seen by Israelis as security novices.

An investigation has started after Israel's security service, the Shin Bet, apparently gave the government advance warning of the Palestinian attack.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[Youngman442002]

The IDF's need to surround this guys home...cannons loaded...and say 30 minutes ..or your house with wife and kiddies are dust....then we will find you ..and you will be next...and so on and so forth...until the final surrender

[Dumpster Baby]

Yeah, it's tough not having a bunker 100 feet underground, with a 30 foot thick slab on top.

[gotribe]

Ismail Haniya thinks he's feeling the heat now -- wait'll the Israelis kidnap him.

[oolatec]

He's in Syria... death from above for him... or some kind of car "accident"...

[dinasour]

> The original attack on Israeli soldiers in a tank will be seen as entirely legitimate by most Palestinians, not just by his own supporters.

Absolutely. It was a completely legitimate act of war.

A full response to destroy the opposing Army is, also, a completely legitimate act of war.

I pray that the Israelis (and ourselves) realize that they are really at war. The so-called Palestinians do.

[Alouette]

Ismail Haniya thinks he's feeling the heat now -- wait'll the Israelis kidnap him shoot a Hellfire missile up his tailpipe.

[blam]

"The IDF's need to surround this guys home...cannons loaded...and say 30 minutes ..or your house with wife and kiddies are dust....then we will find you ..and you will be next...and so on and so forth...until the final surrender"

Nah, don't fool around with the messy stuff...put a 2,000 JDAM through his roof...wife, kids, everyone ...poof. (Next?)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the BBC:

In pictures: Israeli Gaza assault

First one then go to the link:

Israeli forces have launched a ground offensive into southern Gaza to try to free a soldier captured by Palestinian militants.

[LA Conservative]

I am hoping they are stuffing the gray matter back into the entrance wound in his head. Don't show the other side.

[no dems]

Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out.

[Concho]

Mossad would rather bring him the heads of his children on a platter before they pop a cap in his hind end.

[psychoknk]

I agree. Attacking soldiers is legitimate. Unfortunately, what makes the situation less so is that Israel is pressured not not fight back. Many people, here and especially in Europe, and also some in Israel, excuse any and all attacks on Israel (including the terrorist targetted attacks on civilians), but when Israel hits millitants, even when there is no collateral damage, it is seen as an act of aggression and Israel is told to stop (the left likes to use idea that killing militants is counterproductive because every one that Israel kills, two rise in his place).

What needs to happen is a release of the shackles put on Israel. What people do not realize is that the terrorists can only be successful if they are able to hide in the populace. The Arabs know who the terrorists are, and they harbor them. As such, what the left dubs "collective punishment" (i.e. restrictions on movement, security screenings) is totally appropriate, and more extreme measures are warranted as well. What needs to happen is a shift in the mentality of the Arabs from one in which they want to resist, to one in which they truly want peace. I think that the way to do this is by defeating them and demoralizing them.

Unfortunately, those are all pipe dreams. As much as I hate to say it, it looks quite hopeless for Israel. I'm waiting, and working, for a miracle. And given recent history, I don't think that praying will help either.

[rake]

Great picture.

"Achmed, the JEWS are coming!!!!"

[Thumper1960]

48 hours.

That's what the "palestinians" get as a time frame to release the abducted....alive and unharmed.

Failing that, Israel should begin a scorched earth policy to forever rid the ME of the "palestinian" infestation.

No quarter and no mercy. Since the "palestinians", collectively, have seen fit to murder, pillage and destroy, they should feel the full heat of retaliation.

By any, and all, weapons at Israel's disposal.

[bray]

Dead Man Sweating

Pray for W and Our Troops

[bboop]

The problem really is not that Israel is pressured not to fight back, but that they CHOOSE to honor that request. Again and again. Which -- let me guess -- enables their tormentors to believe they can get away with it again and again with no consequences. Sort of like giving your kid Time Out. Insignificant consequences = no power.

[Salem]

Oooweee! That has to be rough, sweating at every sound of an American made Apache attack helicopter just over the horizon...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I just love that picture.