Following a number of days in which palestinian terrorists fired close to 20 rockets and mortar shells at Israel (prompting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to vow to respond decisively and strongly to any attack), Israeli defense officials yesterday stated that in the event of a future conflict with Hamas, the IDF may be ordered by the government to take over the Philadelphi Corridor in the southern Gaza Strip, which is currently lined with hundreds of weapons smuggling tunnels.
The purpose of such an operation would be to prevent Hamas from rearming following the larger conflict, which is something they seem to have done following Operation Cast Lead, significantly boosting their military capabilities with long-range rockets.
Such an operation would require troops to go house-to-house in Rafah to search for tunnels and to destroy them, increasing the risk of IDF casualties. It would also necessitate the IDF retaining a presence in southern Rafah to prevent the re-digging of the tunnels.
On Sunday, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yom-Tov Samia, the former head of the Southern Command who continues to function as the current head’s deputy in the reserves, hinted at the possibility that the IDF will conquer the Philadelphi Corridor in the future.
In an interview with Army Radio, Samia said that in a future conflict, Israel would take over “specific territory” in Gaza that would help reduce Hamas’s “oxygen supply.” Contacted later in the day, Samia refused to specify which territory he had referred to.
“We are facing another round in Gaza,” said Samia, who during Cast Lead functioned as the deputy to OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant. “I am very skeptical about the chance that Hamas will suddenly surrender or change its way without first suffering a far more serious blow than it did during Cast Lead.”
The blow, he said, would be “more focused with long-range results including the conquering of territory that Hamas will understand it lost as a result of its provocations. We need to create a situation which reduces its oxygen supply.”
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
11:00PM: Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, has called US special Mideast envoy George Mitchell’s timetable of reaching peace within two years “unrealistic and might prove counterproductive.”
10:55PM:Israel’s Foreign Ministry has responded to more Turkey Jerkey:
The Foreign Ministry earlier Monday hit back at Erdogan over his remarks, saying: “Israel is careful to respect Turkey and seeks continued proper ties between the countries, but we expect reciprocity,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, calling Erdogan’s remarks an “unbridled tongue-lashing”.
“The State of Israel has the full right to protect its citizens from the missiles and terror of Hamas and Hezbollah, and the Turks are the last who can preach morality to the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces.”
Tell us what you really Armenian mean.
8:14PM: Here in Israel yesterday, US senator Joe Lieberman reacted to US Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell’s comments that the US would withhold aid money from Israel if it was not forthcoming with the palestinians.
7:34PM: Palestinian terrorists today fired yet another Qassam into Israel.
They are either so desperate to kill Jews they’ll risk the inevitable consequences, or are actually wanting Israel to respond.
5:40PM: The award for UNIFIL Soldier Most Likely to Have Accidentally Gotten His Bayonet Lodged Where the Sun Don’t Shine goes to..
4:40PM: Chutzpah of the day:
MK Said Naffaa asked the Knesset on Monday to enforce his immunity as to protect him from a recently submitted indictment accusing him of contacting enemy agents.
Last December, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said he intended to indict Naffaa over an alleged 2007 Syria meeting with Talal Naji, deputy chief of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and visiting the offices of Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshal, although he was not present at the time.
The prosecution accused Naffaa at the time of having “knowingly contacted a foreign agent without a reasonable explanation for doing so.”
The Balad MK sent a letter to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin on Monday in which he rejected the accusations leveled against him, arguing that the meetings he held in Syria fall under his duties as a member of Knesset.
In his letter, Naffaa indicated the reasons for which his immunity as a MK protects him from the current indictment.
“The offences attributed to me in the indictment are considered actions done for and during my line of duty,” he wrote.
Apparently, his line of duty as a member of the Knesset involves assisting those who are trying to destroy the State.
Now I knew our political system was dysfunctional, but I had no idea it was this bad.
‘Naff(aa) said.
12:26PM: In a poll of 500 Israeli Jews:
- 43% opposed a Swiss-style ban on mosque minarets in the country, with 28% supporting it and 29% undecided.
- 72% of “national-religious” respondents opposed such a ban (55% “strongly opposed”) with 16% in favor
- 53% of “ultra-Orthodox” respondents opposed such a ban with 21% in favor
- 36% of “traditional” respondents opposed such a ban with 31% in favor
- 42% of “secular” respondents opposed such a ban with 29% in favor
- 92% of “far-right” National Union party opposed such a ban (65% “strongly opposed”) with 8% in favor
- 64% of “right-wing” Israel Beiteinu party opposed such a ban with 36% in favor
- 54% of “right-wing” Habayit Hayehudi party opposed such a ban with 20% in favor
- 68% of “ultra-Orthodox” United Torah Judaism party opposed such a ban with 22% in favor
- 55% of “ultra-Orthodox” Shas party opposed such a ban with 20% in favor
- 66% of “left-wing” Meretz party opposed such a ban
- 43% of Labor party opposed such a ban with 27% in favor
- 42% of Kadima party opposed such a ban with 31% in favor
- 41% of Likud party opposed such a ban with 41% in favor
And what does this show?
The survey demonstrated that “when it comes to freedom of religion, Israelis are apparently much more tolerant than their Swiss counterparts,” according to Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.
“There is a definite correlation between religious observance and tolerance towards Islam… The fact that less than one-third of all Israelis support banning minarets indicates that from the Israeli point of view, there is room for respectful coexistence between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs when it is based on religion and not politics.”
I’d add that the highest opposition to such a ban comes from the national-religious community, the very community maligned as “settlers” and demonized by all, including the very Muslims who would be affected by the ban.
Just saying.
6:08AM: Rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated.
An erroneous report in a popular news site from Portugal this week started a false rumor that former prime minister Ariel Sharon was dead.
Though comatose for the fourth year straight, Sharon is indeed still alive.
The error appeared in IOL Portugal Diario for more than 24 hours, prompting reporters from all over the world – and especially Brazil – to try to corroborate the report.
The article, which has since been taken offline, did not say how Sharon died, reviewing instead highlights from his political and military career.
It wouldn’t be the first time.
