Israeli tanks on move as Sharon plans revenge - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

FishForLunch · 08-20-2003, 09:53 PM

Time to tell Bush to go to hell.

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By Inigo Gilmore in Jerusalem
(Filed: 21/08/2003)

Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, last night approved military strikes against Palestinian militants in response to a suicide bombing that killed 18 people.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Eliezer Wiessfish, killed in Tuesday's bombing

A senior Israeli army official said the operations, which were due to be confirmed later by the cabinet, could last for several days. They would include arrests, raids and "targeted killings" against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

The renewed offensive was expected to begin within hours, with 13 tanks lining up outside Ramallah last night.

Mr Sharon's decision came despite an order by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister, for his security services to arrest the militants responsible for the bus bombing in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

In one of the worst attacks of the three-year intifada, and despite ceasefire declarations by all three militant groups, at least 18 people, including five Americans, were killed.

The suicide bombing, for which Hamas claimed responsibility, put the US-sponsored peace "road map" under more pressure than ever.

Washington repeated its commitment to a long-term vision of two states living side by side in peace, but said both needed "to consider what is the way forward".

Richard Boucher, the State Department spokesman, said: "We do understand Israel's first priority is security."

Facing his most critical test yet, Mr Abbas was reported to have prepared an ultimatum to Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, either to back a clampdown on Hamas and Islamic Jihad or face his cabinet resigning.

Representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been banned from giving media interviews, Palestinian police said.

Earlier Israel shelved its planned handover of occupied cities to Palestinian control, broke off high-level talks and reimposed a tight military clampdown on the West Bank.

madape · 08-21-2003, 11:02 AM

If the palestineans won't do anything about Hamas and other terrorist groups, then what other choice to the Israeli's have? It's time to take these punks out of comission. Roll those tanks into the West bank, Ariel. Roll them over 200,000 dead Arabs if you have to. There will be no peace in the middle east until this is resolved. If the Arabs want to resolve it with violence, I say bring it on!

Psychedelic Fuzz · 08-21-2003, 11:14 AM

The problem is that this violent minority has hijacked a generally moderate majority, and although both sides have blood on their hands, it won't end until forces (either internal or external) set up a strong palestinian government willing to stand up to the radicals and discuss a solution other than killing all the israelis.

madape · 08-21-2003, 11:27 AM

I say the only good palestinian government is NO palistenian government. Let the Israeli's, with the help of US intelligence, hunt down these terrorists on their own. Trusting the Palestinians to do the job is never going to work. And the truth is that no matter how strong the Palistinean government is, or how intimidated by the U.S. they are, they simply can't or won't do as good a job of ridding the West Bank/Gaza Strip of terrorists as Israeli agents could if Israel occupied the territory with ground troops. There's a time for patience and peace efforts. That time is gone. Cry Havoc, unleash the dogs of war.

kg_veteran · 08-21-2003, 11:46 AM

Israel has proven that they will take care of business if outside forces don't try and intervene for "peace". This is one instance where it appears proper to simply back off and let our ally handle its own affairs.

Psychedelic Fuzz · 08-21-2003, 05:23 PM

good point, but the attacks would continue and the terrorists would have constant streams of new recruits as more people lash out against the israelis. They bomb because they fight the occupation, and the Israelis occupy to stop the bombs, so either a strong central palestinian authority or continued outside involvement has to be there to break the cycle.

nowitzki_prophecy · 08-21-2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

good point, but the attacks would continue and the terrorists would have constant streams of new recruits as more people lash out against the israelis. They bomb because they fight the occupation, and the Israelis occupy to stop the bombs, so either a strong central palestinian authority or continued outside involvement has to be there to break the cycle.

Sorry but the bombings has nothing to do with the occupation.
The occupation is an excuse for them to get their guns off.
They were given so many freaking oppurunities to end the occupation,they were givn one a month age with the "Road Map",its not their goal,having their country aknewledged by israel is not what they're after.
As sick and twisted it may sound,their entire goal is for israel to extinct,and thats the truth.

The thing is,Abu Mazen has no control what so ever of Palestine.
Abu Mazen and Muhammad Dahlan(head of security for the palestinian authurity)have made promises,not sure if they were truthful,but they were there.
The thing is,they have no control of their region.
The terrorists organizations are funded from Iran and Syria,and are not depandable on the palestinian govermant,and they are actualy much stronger.
In a look back,you might think the palestinian people are suffering from some sort of dictatorship by the "hamas" and "Jiad",but the truth is the vast majority supports their actions,and go on parading after each and every bombing.
It isnt too difficult for them to find recruits.

Psychedelic Fuzz · 08-21-2003, 09:11 PM

then you agree that a strong central palestinian govt. is the way to end this?

nowitzki_prophecy · 08-22-2003, 04:12 AM

Quote:

then you agree that a strong central palestinian govt. is the way to end this?

Look,a strong palestinian govermant would require some major assistance from israel and the US,and if Abu Mazen gets control of his country only because he got assistance from us,he would never have full control of his country and will actualy be considerd a traitor from both his people,and the arab nations.
Even if he had power,im not sure he would bother too much with stoping the terrorists organizations,like i said,they have much more support than one would think.

Im really not sure whats the solution,its a very complex situation,but what i would do is continue to build to fence,so we could declare palestine as an independent state,and any penetration of a terrorist could be be readen as an act of war and we could react as we see fits.

Psychedelic Fuzz · 08-22-2003, 03:06 PM

For the record I don't really think it's that black and white, and I support Israel completely (I mean why not stand by the only functioning democracy in the region) you are right about it being complex. things get hairy when neither side wants to budge and both have blood on their hands.

As a side note, if I seem too overly contentious, it's only because I relish an intelligent discussion. Really is apalling how endangered they are in everyday life.