I will start today’s liveblogging post with a number of proofs.
Firstly, here is proof that Israel cares for the lives of palestinian civilians, even though they have allowed themselves to be used as human shields:
Legal experts in the government say it is difficult to decide whether Israel can move Palestinian civilians from areas in the northern Gaza Strip where rockets are fired against Israel. They say international law is based on precedents, and in Israel’s case the matter is in many ways unprecedented.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak had requested legal advice from Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and the military advocate general on the possibility of moving Palestinian civilians from the rocket-launching areas.
The idea would be to give the Israel Defense Forces greater room to maneuver and target rocket crews without endangering civilians.
—-
During the meeting, Barak presented a series of possible operations the IDF could undertake in the Gaza Strip on which he asked for a legal opinion.
Barak raised options including cutting all fuel supplies to Gaza, firing single artillery shells against sources of rocket fire, clearing areas in the Strip from which Qassam rockets are launched, evacuating civilians from these areas, and shelling or bombing areas after warning the civilians to leave.
Next, here is proof of what I blogged yesterday regarding the IDF finding weapons in a mosque and houses.
Updates (Israel time):
6:20AM: A rocket just hit a house in Sderot. No injuries have been reported at this stage.
8:18AM: Luckily, the house was empty, and no-one was killed or injured.
8:20AM: The IDF arrested 16 wanted terror suspects overnight.
8:22AM: The IDF has struck 2 Qassam-launching terror cells.
8:46AM: Another terrorist killed and one wounded.
1:13PM: Hamas is now bragging about its weaponry.
1:23PM: Feeding the hand that bites us:* This morning, Israel opened the crossings along the southern border with Gaza, allowing over 160 trucks packed with aid and medical supplies to stream into Gaza.
* I am borrowing this phrase from the WSJ’s Brett Stephens.
1:35PM: Sources from within the Givati Infantry Brigade have stated that its soldiers participating in the current Gaza operations have implemented many lessons learned in the Second Lebanon War.
No word yet on whether this includes not paying attention to Olmert.
5:35PM: Yes, I am still alive. I have just been too busy to even have one moment to blog since my last update.
6:10PM: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she believes a peace deal between Israel and the palestinians is still possible by the end of the year. Professor Benny Shanon was not available for comment.
