Jew Haters Rejoice: Hamas Vows More Attacks on Israel
AGGREEN
By Robert Berger
Palestinian supporters of the Hamas attend a rally in Gaza City, 14 Dec 2008
Tensions are high on the border of Israel and the Gaza Strip after a
cease-fire comes to an end.
Palestinian militants in Gaza fired rockets into southern Israel, formally
ending a six-month old cease-fire. The truce expired on Friday, and the
Islamic militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, said it would not be
renewed.
A masked member of the Hamas military wing, Abu Obeida, said all Palestinian
factions agreed that Israel has not abided by the cease-fire and therefore
they would return to armed resistance.
Truce began collapsing after Israeli cross-border raid
In fact, the truce began collapsing a month and a half ago after Israel
launched a deadly cross-border raid. The army said it destroyed a tunnel
that was going to be used to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Since then,
Palestinian rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel nearly every day.
Israel said it wants the Egyptian-mediated truce to continue, but an
escalation in rocket fire could bring harsh retaliation.
"We are willing to abide by the understandings reached through the
Egyptians, but it can't be unilateral. There has to be a total cessation of
all hostile fire from Gaza into Israel for calm to succeed," said spokesman
Mark Regev.
Both sides bracing for new violence
Israel is reluctant to invade Gaza after it pulled out of the territory and
dismantled 21 Jewish settlements there in 2005. It fears an offensive would
bring high casualties among Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians, and
in turn, international condemnation.
Hamas fears an Israeli invasion could threaten its grip on power in Gaza. So
the group has stopped short of saying that it would immediately heat up the
border, but warned that it would retaliate for what it termed any Israeli
"aggression."
There is a tense standoff, and both sides are bracing for a new round of
violence.
In Washington later Friday, U.S. President George Bush will host the
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, for a "farewell
meeting" between the two leaders. Mr. Bush's term ends next month.
The White House says the talks will focus on building Palestinian
institutions, achieving economic development, and training and deploying
Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.