http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/hamastan/ en-us Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:06:00 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2125117/posts Gaza Strip (AP) -- Israel launched an airstrike on Gaza early Wednesday after its troops clashed with Hamas militants who fired mortars into Israel, leaving six Palestinians dead. It was the first battle since a June truce mostly quieted violence in the volatile territory. The Israeli army said the clashes erupted late Tuesday after its forces uncovered a tunnel in central Gaza that militants planned to use to abduct Israeli soldiers. It said a special army unit headed to the area to destroy the tunnel. One Palestinian was killed in fierce gunbattles that ensued. Hamas then fired mortars across the... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2125117/posts#comment Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:06:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016812/posts 'A people without walls is a people without any choice." So writes Aristotle in The Politics. In modern parlance, we might say that a nation that does not adequately defend or define its borders subjects its citizens not only to military risk but to political danger. A country that cannot maintain its deterrent capability vis-a-vis its hostile neighbors rapidly loses strategic maneuverability, becomes enervated and finds itself increasingly helpless. Israel, as recent events have once again made lamentably plain, risks becoming such a country. Fifteen Israelis were wounded Wednesday - four seriously - by a Grad-model rocket that hit a... Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016812/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 12:31:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002491/posts Hamas faces unprecedented crisis, as Israel, Egypt prepare for flare-up Alex Fishman 4/16/08 Egypt asked Israel to put its forces along the Gaza Strip border on alert, while at the same time the Egyptian army is on special deployment on the Philadelphi Route and south of it. Officials in Israel and Egypt estimate that Gaza is on the brink of eruption that may be violently manifested on the Strip’s border with the two countries. Israeli security officials estimate that Hamas’ Gaza regime has reached a dead-end and is facing an unprecedented crisis not seen since it took over the Strip.... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2002491/posts#comment Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:01:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996790/posts JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) -- An aide to Israel's public security minister was wounded by a Palestinian gunman on Friday as he toured an observation point overlooking the Gaza Strip with a group of Canadian tourists. Dozens of other people were at the site at the time, Cabinet Minister Avi Dichter said, but no one else was hurt. The deputy director of Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon, Dr. Emile Hay, said Dichter's bureau chief, Matti Gil, was in stable condition with gunshot wounds to the lower abdomen and pelvis. Several militant groups claimed responsibility for the attack, including the military wing of... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1996790/posts#comment Fri, 4 Apr 2008 17:57:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993810/posts Two Palestinian terrorists were killed by the IDF late Saturday evening, Palestinian sources claimed. Rescue workers reported three explosions near the town of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip. They said the two gunmen. Reportedly they were trying to plant an explosive device near the security barrier. Military officials said the Palestinian report was being looked into. On Friday, IDF troops shot and killed two Palestinian gunmen during clashes in the Gaza Strip, and a Kassam rocket slammed into a kibbutz kindergarten moments after the children had left the playground. A Hamas man was killed and another was wounded during... Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993810/posts#comment Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:39:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988251/posts SDEROT, Israel (AP) -- Touring a war-battered town, Sen. John McCain said Wednesday he understands Israel's tough response to Palestinian rocket fire, adding that there is no point in negotiating with the Gaza Strip's Islamic Hamas regime. The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting also praised the moderate Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, saying he is committed to reaching a peace deal with Israel — though McCain is not meeting Palestinians this time. McCain's visit to Israel is part of a weeklong trip through the Middle East and Europe. After a day of meetings with Israeli leaders, he visited Sderot, the southern Israeli border... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988251/posts#comment Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:23:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981458/posts GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) -- The U.N. Human Rights Council has condemned Israel's offensive in Gaza and called on Palestinians to stop rocket fire into Israel. The resolution passed Thursday said Israeli incursions into the Palestinian territory inflicted collective punishment on the civilian population. Israel launched the offensive last week in response to Palestinian militants barraging southern Israel with rockets. AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981458/posts#comment Thu, 6 Mar 2008 19:03:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981252/posts Published: 03.06.08, 15:29 / Israel News Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided Thursday to cancel his US visit, scheduled for next week, due to the escalating situation in southern Israel. Barak was to meet with Vice President Dick Cheney and US secretary of Defense Robert Gates. (Roni Sofer) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1981252/posts#comment Thu, 6 Mar 2008 13:55:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1980988/posts Several thousand Arabs led by Arab nationalist Knesset members participated in a procession through the Israeli city of Umm el-Fahm near Megiddo Tuesday evening. The demonstration was held in protest of Israeli military operations in Gaza and involved incidents of rock throwing at Israeli cars.The crowd chanted "Israel, the mother of terror" and held a sign that read "Stop the Zionazi" in English. Additional slogans were "Rest, O martyr, we will complete the task," "Warm blessings to the rock children," as well as the standard "With blood and spirit, we will redeem Palestine." The participants held Syrian and PLO... Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1980988/posts#comment Wed, 5 Mar 2008 23:25:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979894/posts GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Palestinians say they know when an Israeli drone is in the air: Cell phones stop working, TV reception falters and they can hear a distant buzzing. They also know what's likely to come next — a devastating explosion on the ground. Palestinians say Israel's pilotless planes have been a major weapon in its latest offensive in Gaza, which has killed nearly 120 people since last week. "Our experience is that the drone missile is successful in hitting its targets, and it's deadly," said Dr. Mahmoud Assali, a Palestinian physician who works in the emergency... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979894/posts#comment Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:41:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979766/posts The London-based human rights organization Amnesty International has condemned Israel's attacks on Gaza, claiming they are "being carried out with reckless disregard for civilian life." "Israeli military attacks over the past few days have killed more than 75 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 10 children, and other unarmed civilian bystanders not involved in the confrontations" Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa program, said Sunday. "Israel has a legal obligation to protect the civilian population of Gaza. Such attacks are disproportionate and go beyond lawful measures which Israeli forces may take in response to rocket attacks... Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1979766/posts#comment Mon, 3 Mar 2008 20:54:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977868/posts Gaza Strip (AP) -- A bloody spike in Israel-Hamas fighting put the Israeli city of Ashkelon and its 110,000 residents at the center of an intensifying militant rocket barrage Thursday — and Israel's defense minister warned he would invade Gaza, if necessary, to halt the attacks. Israel sent a not-so-veiled warning to Gaza's Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, killing 20 Palestinians in almost a dozen airstrikes, including a missile attack on a guard post outside Haniyeh's home. Hamas leaders have been in hiding in recent weeks, though Israel has so far only targeted militants, not Hamas politicians. The dead Thursday... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977868/posts#comment Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:21:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977221/posts TEL AVIV — New population data have some Palestinians contemplating an unorthodox formula for Middle East peace — a single democratic nation of Arabs and Jews, in which Palestinians would be the majority. "If Israel wants to call it Israel from Jordan to the Mediterranean, I accept it. So we'll be equal to them," said Saeb Erekat, a negotiator who has been at the center of negotiations to set up a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "And with the majority, I will change the name of the Knesset to Parliament and the name of Israel to... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1977221/posts#comment Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:24:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971061/posts GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- The eight-month closure of Gaza has created "grim and miserable" conditions that deprive Palestinians of their basic dignity, the U.N.'s humanitarian chief said Friday. Later Friday, a powerful blast went off in the house of a senior Islamic Jihad activist, killing him and five others, medics and an Islamic Jihad spokesman said. Islamic Jihad said an Israeli airstrike targeted the house, but Israel denied it. John Holmes, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, visited Gaza during the day and urged that the territory's borders be reopened to relieve the suffering. Israel and Egypt severely restricted access... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971061/posts#comment Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:56:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971028/posts GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- An explosion Friday in the house of an Islamic Jihad activist killed at least one person and wounded 30, Hamas police and medics said. Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza said the house was hit in an Israeli airstrike. Hamas security officials said the cause of the explosion was not clear. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. The blast happened at the central Gaza home of Ayman Atallah Fayed AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1971028/posts#comment Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:46:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968527/posts GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Leaders of Gaza's ruling Hamas movement have gone into hiding, fearing Israeli assassination attempts in response to a wave of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel, officials said Monday. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the military to prepare to invade Gaza, and told Israeli lawmakers that under certain circumstances, Israel would "even take down Hamas." Barak spoke at a closed parliamentary meeting whose discussions routinely are leaked to the media. It was the first time a senior Israeli official hinted so strongly that Israel was prepared to overthrow Hamas if the Palestinians didn't... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968527/posts#comment Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:51:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1961112/posts Pali-Arab Hate Watch Pali-parasites get 7.6 billion in aid. For what? For this? Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas continues to portray the United States as the merciless enemy of the Palestinians. A cartoon in the PA official daily last week shows Gaza drowning in blood, while the US is cruelly stamping on the outstretched Arab arm trying to help Gaza.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan-19-2008) *This demonization of the USA is a continuation of PA policy for many years. See the PMW web site for more cartoon examples. Palistan Reality: The dude with a case of cigs talking on a cell phone.... sheikyermami http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1961112/posts#comment Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:00:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1958963/posts Likud MK Yuval Shteinitz, who chaired the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Sharon government, says that with the breakdown of the border between Gaza and Egypt, Israel's lone option remains the same: "We must take over Gaza." Speaking with Arutz-7 today, Shteinitz said, "If Hamas worked to break open the border with Egypt, this means it is not in Israel's interest.  For one thing, our pressure tactic against the Gazan terrorists - that is, the siege that we imposed - is no longer effective, as they can just go to Egypt to buy whatever they need.  In... Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1958963/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:23:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1958950/posts CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- The Gaza border crisis caused another sharp flap Thursday in Egyptian-Israeli relations, with Egypt angrily accusing Israel of trying to dump all responsibility for the troubled Gaza Strip in its lap. It was not clear if the proposal for Israel to relinquish all control over Gaza, expressed privately by several Israeli officials and publicly by one, was serious or just an effort to test international reaction to the idea. But Egyptian officials were fuming. "This is a wrong assumption," Hossam Zaki, the official spokesman for Egypt's Foreign Ministry, said of Israeli hints that it was thinking... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1958950/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:06:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945210/posts GAZA CITY — Hamas has for the first time reported firing surface-to-air missiles at Israeli aircraft. Hamas said its new army launched SAMs toward Israeli attack helicopters that operated over the Gaza Strip. The Islamic regime, in the first such announcement, said the air defense systems were employed on Dec. 20 during an Israeli military operation in the central Gaza Strip. "Our fighters opened intense fire from more than one weapon at 11:30 a.m., and forced the surprised IAF helicopters to withdraw," a Hamas statement said. Hamas distributed leaflets throughout the Gaza Strip that reported the use of SAMs. The... Worldtribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945210/posts#comment Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:42:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1941863/posts A high-voltage power line fell over Tuesday during the Gaza funeral for two terrorists killed by the IDF Monday. The line was severed by shooting in the air. One person was killed and eight injured by the live wires. Arutz Sheva http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1941863/posts#comment Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:44:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1940864/posts A female Hamas activist, considered one of the two most senior women to sit in an Israeli jail, was released from prison on Monday after serving a 28 month sentence. Upon reaching Beit Hanoun, she called upon Hamas not to free Gilad Shalit Ali Waked Published: 12.17.07, 21:12 / Israel News Hamas activist Samar Sbaih didn't even wait one day after her release from an Israeli prison before issuing a call to her fellow Hamas members to abduct more Israeli soldiers. Speaking at a press conference in Beit Hanoun to celebrate her release on Monday after 28 months of imprisonment,... YNet http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1940864/posts#comment Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:52:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1937974/posts KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Israeli tanks and bulldozers backed by attack aircraft moved into the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing five militants in the widest operation in the territory since Islamic Hamas forces wrested control in June. Another died in an airstrike in northern Gaza. The violence took place on the eve of the first formal peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians since early 2001. The Israeli military described it as a routine operation "against the terror infrastructure" in Gaza. Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to sabotage the peace talks. In Tuesday's operation, tanks and... AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1937974/posts#comment Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:32:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935460/posts Israel readies for Gaza invasion The army has completed plans for a large offensive in the Gaza Strip, now controlled by Hamas, and is waiting only for gov't approval, the military said. Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said Israel in the meantime would continue with its policy of airstrikes and brief ground incursions to halt Palestinian rocket attacks. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has repeatedly said the time for a ground invasion of Gaza is drawing closer, if not yet imminent. Investor's Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1935460/posts#comment Thu, 6 Dec 2007 04:52:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1915987/posts IAF planes struck a Kassam rocket cell in northern Gaza Wednesday evening, moments after it had succeeded in launching two rockets into Israeli territory. Two of the three operatives were killed, the IDF said. Both rockets struck open areas in the western Negev. Nobody was wounded in the attack, and no damage was reported. Earlier in the day, two Kassams struck the Negev, also hitting open areas and causing neither damage nor injury. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he planned to approve a list of civilian sanctions against the Gaza Strip in a security meeting he would... Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1915987/posts#comment Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:06:13 GMT