The office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert issued a statement on Wednesday saying Israel would not carry out a large-scale ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. However, other Israeli officials and analysts still described a Gaza invasion as "likely".
According to Israeli daily Haaretz, Olmert's statement assured that the Israeli army is still authorized to carry out limited operations in Gaza "in order to foil kidnapping attempts and terror attacks in the future."
The statement included a threat that "Israel will not hesitate to take harsh measures against those who try to harm its sovereignty by firing rockets into our territory, attempting attacks on soldiers, and (by) other means."
Prime Minister Olmert held an emergency meeting on Wednesday with senior security officials following a barrage of projectiles fired into Israel on Tuesday. Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam brigades, claimed to have fired over 80 projectiles at Israeli targets on Tuesday morning.
Abu Ubeida, the head of Hamas' military wing, announced on Tuesday evening that the ceasefire had been broken long ago, by Israel through its continuous violations and aggressions.
“Kick Haniyeh out"
Despite Olmert's conciliatory message, the Israeli minister of infrastructure, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, warned Hamas on Wednesday that the Israeli army will not hesitate to invade the Gaza Strip and "kick Ismail Haniyeh out of his own home" if they think of kidnapping another Israeli soldier.
Talking to Israeli Radio on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of Israel, he added that Israel has tried to demonstrate the highest level of self-restraint towards the Palestinian launching of homemade Qassam projectiles. He added that he hoped that Hamas realizes that Israel possesses "several other means of response", but the decision on when and how to respond was left to the army.
Israeli media: Gaza offensive, sooner the better
Israeli newspapers also generally considered that a wide-scale Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip was likely.
The newspapers stated on Wednesday that the Israeli army had been preparing for the possibility of conducting such an operation over the past months; however the operation had been delayed due to the Passover feast and Israel's Independence Day.
The newspapers also revealed that several Israeli army leaders, specifically in the southern command, are in favor of a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, because they believe that Hamas has been taking advantage of every day to prepare for a future confrontation, in an attempt to imitate Hezbollah in south Lebanon. Consequently, these pro-confrontation leaders believe that the sooner the operation takes place, the better the results Israel may have.
In their analyses, various Israeli writers and analysts discussed the military and security escalation on the borders with the Gaza Strip, especially following the barrage of Palestinian projectiles launched at Israeli targets on Tuesday. That shelling, they said, demonstrated Hamas' intention to resume military actions.
Hamas' military wing fire 80 projectiles into southern Israel
In a noticeable development, the Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, have announced their responsibility for launching more than 80 homemade projectiles and mortars at Israeli towns and military posts located near the borders of the Gaza Strip.
In a number of statements, the brigades said that they launched 28 projectiles and 61 mortars at Israeli targets on Tuesday morning. The brigades also said that two projectiles landed on a military runway, south of the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
The projectile-launching came 24 hours after Israel threatened to invade the northern Gaza Strip in a wide military operation if the projectiles continued.
In the same regard, the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), said that its members launched two projectiles at the Israeli post of Keram Abu Salim/ Kerem Shalom, located southeast of Rafah on the border point between the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Israel.
The Al-Quds brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa brigades, the main armed wing of Fatah, also claimed responsibility for launching projectiles at a number of Israeli posts east of the Strip.
The Al-Quds brigades announced that their members launched one projectile at the Israeli military post of Sufa, south of Khan Younis, on Tuesday and another two on Monday night. They also announced that they fired two mortar projectiles at Nahal Oz, an Israel village north east of the Strip. In a statement, the brigades said that these operations are part of the "natural retaliation" for the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Al-Aqsa brigades also claimed to have fired two projectiles at the southern Israeli town of Sderot.
Israel continues to deny entry to foreign passport holders, cases of physical abuse recorded
Israeli border control authorities are continuing to arbitrarily deny entry to foreigners traveling to the occupied Palestinian territory, a press release from the Palestinian grassroots 'Campaign for the Right to Enter' states.
The denial of (re-)entry was first identified by the Campaign in early 2006 when long-time residents returning from visa renewal excursions were being barred from re-entry, separating them from their family and livelihood and forcing relocation to another country.
The campaign has urged a review of Israeli practices and laws and many third parties have called on Israel to "announce a consistent, comprehensive, transparent and internationally lawful policy towards foreign passport holders
intending to reside with family, visit, work, or study in the oPt", the press release says. However, many foreign passport holders are still being barred entry into Israel en route to the occupied Palestinian territory.
Disturbingly, the campaign also highlights that there are reports of Israeli border officials physically abusing foreigners; one US citizen was forced to return to Jordan at knifepoint and a Swiss national was forced back to Jordan at gunpoint.
Israel's continued abuse of its control over entry, presence and residency in the occupied Palestinian territory causes "unjustifiable harm to the protected civilian population," the campaign points out. Such practices are in violation of Israel's obligations as an occupying power to comply with international humanitarian law, the press release recalls.
The press release describes how, on April 14, Hassan Newash, a US passport holder and retired engineer, was flashed a switchblade by an Israeli official at Allenby Bridge to force him back on the bus to Amman. Fearing for his life, Mr. Newash complied. Insisting on knowing the reasons for Israel's denial of his planned entry to visit his family in Bethlehem, Mr. Newash was physically abused, the campaigners say. Halfway to the Jordanian border it turned out that the Israelis had mixed up Mr. Newash's passport with those of two other travelers carrying the same first name and Mr. Newash was eventually driven back to the Israeli border to collect his passport; he was allowed to enter on a 3-month visa.
The campaigners also describe how, on April 7, Fares Abdullah, 28, a Swiss IT-engineer whose father holds a Palestinian ID, was forced at gunpoint into a private taxi back from Allenby Bridge to the Jordanian border. Mr. Abdullah had previously informed the Israeli Embassy in Bern and the Swiss Embassy in Israel about his planned visit to his parents for Easter. He had been assured that everything would be “ok”. Returning the next day to the border, Mr. Abdullah was eventually allowed through, the campaigners add, "thanks to continuous and vigorous intervention" by a Swiss embassy official. Mr. Abdullah was granted a one week tourist visa.
The campaign says that foreign passport holders who are “allowed” to enter the country are increasingly given visitor permits for as little as a few days, such as the case of Mr. Abdullah, without clear instructions regarding whether and for how long they can extend their stay. Travelers denied entry are arbitrarily subjected to humiliating body searches, detention and verbal abuse before being deported, the campaigners add.
The press release also describes the case of Hanna Quffa, a US passport holder of Palestinian origin who has been working as independent auditor for USAID and other US government projects. On April 21, he was deported from Tel Aviv airport back to Milan after being kept in detention for 12 hours. The campaign points out that he had never had a problem before. Israeli border authorities explained Mr. Quffa's detention and deportation by stating that 'he did not have a work permit."
Yousef Alhelou
Yousef Alhelou is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Gaza. He can be contacted on ydamadan@hotmail.com
Please also see:
Yousef Alhelou: Dutch Government Refuses Prime Minister Haniyeh Entry to The Netherlands for Palestinians in Europe Conference
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3409&blz=1
British human rights worker arrested in Tel Rumeida under false charges
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/04/26/british-hrw-arrested
What cease-fire? - By Amira Hass
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/852315.html
According to Israeli daily Haaretz, Olmert's statement assured that the Israeli army is still authorized to carry out limited operations in Gaza "in order to foil kidnapping attempts and terror attacks in the future."
The statement included a threat that "Israel will not hesitate to take harsh measures against those who try to harm its sovereignty by firing rockets into our territory, attempting attacks on soldiers, and (by) other means."
Prime Minister Olmert held an emergency meeting on Wednesday with senior security officials following a barrage of projectiles fired into Israel on Tuesday. Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam brigades, claimed to have fired over 80 projectiles at Israeli targets on Tuesday morning.
Abu Ubeida, the head of Hamas' military wing, announced on Tuesday evening that the ceasefire had been broken long ago, by Israel through its continuous violations and aggressions.
“Kick Haniyeh out"
Despite Olmert's conciliatory message, the Israeli minister of infrastructure, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, warned Hamas on Wednesday that the Israeli army will not hesitate to invade the Gaza Strip and "kick Ismail Haniyeh out of his own home" if they think of kidnapping another Israeli soldier.
Talking to Israeli Radio on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of Israel, he added that Israel has tried to demonstrate the highest level of self-restraint towards the Palestinian launching of homemade Qassam projectiles. He added that he hoped that Hamas realizes that Israel possesses "several other means of response", but the decision on when and how to respond was left to the army.
Israeli media: Gaza offensive, sooner the better
Israeli newspapers also generally considered that a wide-scale Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip was likely.
The newspapers stated on Wednesday that the Israeli army had been preparing for the possibility of conducting such an operation over the past months; however the operation had been delayed due to the Passover feast and Israel's Independence Day.
The newspapers also revealed that several Israeli army leaders, specifically in the southern command, are in favor of a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, because they believe that Hamas has been taking advantage of every day to prepare for a future confrontation, in an attempt to imitate Hezbollah in south Lebanon. Consequently, these pro-confrontation leaders believe that the sooner the operation takes place, the better the results Israel may have.
In their analyses, various Israeli writers and analysts discussed the military and security escalation on the borders with the Gaza Strip, especially following the barrage of Palestinian projectiles launched at Israeli targets on Tuesday. That shelling, they said, demonstrated Hamas' intention to resume military actions.
Hamas' military wing fire 80 projectiles into southern Israel
In a noticeable development, the Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, have announced their responsibility for launching more than 80 homemade projectiles and mortars at Israeli towns and military posts located near the borders of the Gaza Strip.
In a number of statements, the brigades said that they launched 28 projectiles and 61 mortars at Israeli targets on Tuesday morning. The brigades also said that two projectiles landed on a military runway, south of the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
The projectile-launching came 24 hours after Israel threatened to invade the northern Gaza Strip in a wide military operation if the projectiles continued.
In the same regard, the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), said that its members launched two projectiles at the Israeli post of Keram Abu Salim/ Kerem Shalom, located southeast of Rafah on the border point between the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Israel.
The Al-Quds brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa brigades, the main armed wing of Fatah, also claimed responsibility for launching projectiles at a number of Israeli posts east of the Strip.
The Al-Quds brigades announced that their members launched one projectile at the Israeli military post of Sufa, south of Khan Younis, on Tuesday and another two on Monday night. They also announced that they fired two mortar projectiles at Nahal Oz, an Israel village north east of the Strip. In a statement, the brigades said that these operations are part of the "natural retaliation" for the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Al-Aqsa brigades also claimed to have fired two projectiles at the southern Israeli town of Sderot.
Israel continues to deny entry to foreign passport holders, cases of physical abuse recorded
Israeli border control authorities are continuing to arbitrarily deny entry to foreigners traveling to the occupied Palestinian territory, a press release from the Palestinian grassroots 'Campaign for the Right to Enter' states.
The denial of (re-)entry was first identified by the Campaign in early 2006 when long-time residents returning from visa renewal excursions were being barred from re-entry, separating them from their family and livelihood and forcing relocation to another country.
The campaign has urged a review of Israeli practices and laws and many third parties have called on Israel to "announce a consistent, comprehensive, transparent and internationally lawful policy towards foreign passport holders
intending to reside with family, visit, work, or study in the oPt", the press release says. However, many foreign passport holders are still being barred entry into Israel en route to the occupied Palestinian territory.
Disturbingly, the campaign also highlights that there are reports of Israeli border officials physically abusing foreigners; one US citizen was forced to return to Jordan at knifepoint and a Swiss national was forced back to Jordan at gunpoint.
Israel's continued abuse of its control over entry, presence and residency in the occupied Palestinian territory causes "unjustifiable harm to the protected civilian population," the campaign points out. Such practices are in violation of Israel's obligations as an occupying power to comply with international humanitarian law, the press release recalls.
The press release describes how, on April 14, Hassan Newash, a US passport holder and retired engineer, was flashed a switchblade by an Israeli official at Allenby Bridge to force him back on the bus to Amman. Fearing for his life, Mr. Newash complied. Insisting on knowing the reasons for Israel's denial of his planned entry to visit his family in Bethlehem, Mr. Newash was physically abused, the campaigners say. Halfway to the Jordanian border it turned out that the Israelis had mixed up Mr. Newash's passport with those of two other travelers carrying the same first name and Mr. Newash was eventually driven back to the Israeli border to collect his passport; he was allowed to enter on a 3-month visa.
The campaigners also describe how, on April 7, Fares Abdullah, 28, a Swiss IT-engineer whose father holds a Palestinian ID, was forced at gunpoint into a private taxi back from Allenby Bridge to the Jordanian border. Mr. Abdullah had previously informed the Israeli Embassy in Bern and the Swiss Embassy in Israel about his planned visit to his parents for Easter. He had been assured that everything would be “ok”. Returning the next day to the border, Mr. Abdullah was eventually allowed through, the campaigners add, "thanks to continuous and vigorous intervention" by a Swiss embassy official. Mr. Abdullah was granted a one week tourist visa.
The campaign says that foreign passport holders who are “allowed” to enter the country are increasingly given visitor permits for as little as a few days, such as the case of Mr. Abdullah, without clear instructions regarding whether and for how long they can extend their stay. Travelers denied entry are arbitrarily subjected to humiliating body searches, detention and verbal abuse before being deported, the campaigners add.
The press release also describes the case of Hanna Quffa, a US passport holder of Palestinian origin who has been working as independent auditor for USAID and other US government projects. On April 21, he was deported from Tel Aviv airport back to Milan after being kept in detention for 12 hours. The campaign points out that he had never had a problem before. Israeli border authorities explained Mr. Quffa's detention and deportation by stating that 'he did not have a work permit."
Yousef Alhelou
Yousef Alhelou is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Gaza. He can be contacted on ydamadan@hotmail.com
Please also see:
Yousef Alhelou: Dutch Government Refuses Prime Minister Haniyeh Entry to The Netherlands for Palestinians in Europe Conference
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3409&blz=1
British human rights worker arrested in Tel Rumeida under false charges
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2007/04/26/british-hrw-arrested
What cease-fire? - By Amira Hass
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/852315.html