WarSclerotic

John Kerry: US Will Work With Interim Palestinian Authority Government

US Secretary of State John Kerry stated in Beirut that the US would work with the current interim government in the Palestinian Authority

.Jun 04, 2014, 08:55PM | Jonathan Benedek

via Israel News – John Kerry: US Will Work With Interim Palestinian Authority Government – JerusalemOnline.

Israel mulling Gaza operation as Hamas mediation efforts stagnate – Israel News, Ynetnews.

Defense officials believe Hamas is seeking in escalation, but note the discrepancy between statements by organization’s political bureau and its military wing’s operations.

Ron Ben Yishai

With rocket fire from Gaza continuing unabated, Israeli defense officials now believe Hamas is seeking an escalation in the south, and that the Egyptian mediation efforts were not bearing fruit.

Israel was therefore preparing for a possible escalation that could result in a large-scale IDF operation in Gaza, with cabinet ministers meeting in Jerusalem on Monday afternoon to assess the situation.

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz were also expected to hold a situation assessment at the IDF’s Kiriya headquarters in Tel Aviv on Monday. The two were to discuss future moves to combat the escalation in the south, in the West Bank, in Jerusalem and in Arab towns inside Israel.

Defense officials have noted a discrepancy between statements by Hamas’ political bureau and the operations of its military wing. Nonetheless, a cabinet decision is in place to increase IDF operations in accordance with attacks by Hamas and other terror organizations.

The IDF already stepped up its activity in the Strip overnight, attacking 14 terror targets and killing two terrorists. Seven other Hamas member were killed in a “work accident” inside a tunnel under the southern Gaza border town of Rafah.

Hamas’ political bureau keeps signalling that it is not interested in an escalation, while its military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades continues to act aggressively against Israel. The Israeli assessment is that the military wing is acting out of anger and intends to take advantage of the outrage following the brutal murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdeir in East Jerusalem last week.

Former Shin Bet head Avi Dichter told Ynet on Monday that Israel must accept that it has to wipe out the Hamas threat from Gaza.

“We must focus on how we’re going to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities in Gaza,” he said. “This is not a three-week operation like Cast Lead and not an eight-day one like Pillar of Defense. This will take over a year. This is a move we can’t avoid. While we can’t destroy ideology, we can destroy a terror organization.”

Israel Hayom | Cease-fire needs ‘braking distance’.

Yoav Limor

Israel Hayom | Israel responded correctly, what of the Arabs?.

Dan Margalit

By: Jewish Press News BriefsPublished: July 7th, 2014

via The Jewish Press » » Hamas Threaten Judea and Samaria Next Video.

Hamas is threatening to hit Judea and Samaria next.

Can someone please let our Prime Minister know.

Israeli fighter pilots retaliated against Gaza but the government has not silenced the rockets.

By: Rachel LevyPublished: July 7th, 2014

via The Jewish Press » » 9 Gaza Terrorists Dead in IAF Air Strikes.

Israeli fighter pilots punished Hamas terrorists in Gaza on Sunday night and into Monday, killing nine and destroying underground terror bases and rocket launchers.

The Israeli Air Force carried out 14 surgical air strikes in two waves in retaliation for the day-long, constant rocket fire aimed at civilian villages in southern Israel.

Two terrorists were eliminated in an initial strike as they were preparing to launch a rocket attack against southern Israel, according to the IDF Spokesperson.

In the first of two waves of air strikes, the air force struck nine targets, in which Hamas terrorist bases and underground launchers were hit. Several hours later, five more underground rocket launchers were destroyed in a second wave of attacks.

Overnight, a mortar shell was fired at Israel in the Golan Heights across the northern border from Syria, in what may have a “solidarity strike” with Hamas, and possibly a tentative attempt to open a second front.

IDF troops immediately returned fire, shooting at targets across the border.

More than 25 rockets and mortar shells were fired Sunday at Jewish communities located in areas along the Gaza Belt area – places like the Eshkol Regional Council, Sdot Negev Regional Council and Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council districts.

Sha’ar HaNegev absorbed 10 of the attacks, forcing families to remain in their bomb shelters for the entire day. The Eshkol district was targeted with at least seven, one of which ignited a brush fire. Two missiles hit the Ashkelon coastal region, both landing in open areas.

Gaza’s Hamas terrorist rulers have escalated their attacks, and are slowly bringing out longer-range missiles. Rocket fire is beginning to give way to Grad Katyusha missiles – longer-range projectiles that reach farther, faster. Over the Sabbath, two of the missiles were launched at Be’er Sheva. One exploded in an open area; the second was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

Approximately 200 rockets, mortar shells and missiles have been fired at southern Israel since June 12, when three Israeli teens were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists while hitchhiking home in Judea from their yeshiva in Gush Etzion.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued an ultimatum to Gaza last Thursday, warning that “quiet will be met with quiet” but rocket fire would be silenced by whatever means proved necessary. Israel’s government vowed to target the Hamas leadership if the terror did not end, and Hamas leaders promptly disappeared; they simply moved into the underground bunkers they prepared for this time during the months of “quiet” they were gifted with since the last military operation.

Israel is not allowed to definitively complete its operations in Gaza due to international — and more to the point, United States — pressure. It is the U.S. which withholds military parts and other essentials as punishment when Israel is forced to defend itself from terrorism and thus threatens America’s oil supply and friendly relations with the Arab nations.

Yet the rocket fire goes on and for nearly a month now, thousands of Israelis continue to race hour after hour for the closest bomb shelter — even in the darkest hours of the night. Babies are awakened, small children must run. Pregnant mothers have no respite; working fathers are sleepless. The terror continues.

Gaza Rockets Continue, Soldier Wounded by Shrapnel – Defense/Security – News – Arutz Sheva.

Rocket launch from Gaza (file)

Reuters

Terrorists in the Hamas stronghold of Gaza continue to launch rockets at civilian populations in southern Israel on Monday, after a 24-hour ultimatum issued by Israel last Thursday came and went unheeded, and Israel Air Force (IAF) airstrikes Sunday night merely elicited more threats.

Two rockets were launched early on Monday morning at the Eshkol Regional Council area; one of them, which was defined as a Kassam rocket by Channel 10, exploded in a local community lightly damaging a car.

Shrapnel from the rocket lightly injured a soldier, leaving shrapnel shards in his back and legs, reports Yedioth Aharonoth. The soldier was evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva.

“Color Red” rocket warning sirens, which have become ubiquitous in the area lately, were sounded before the rockets struck.

The rockets are the latest in a recent flood of missile fire; the IDF announced on Sunday that a total of 110 rockets have hit Israel since last Wednesday, with another 40 rockets being fired from Gaza on Sunday.

Later on Monday morning, Gaza terrorists fired on IDF forces that were active near the security fence by Kibbutz Re’im. Apparently the terrorists opened fire with an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) meant for use against tanks; no damage or injuries were caused.

The rockets continued as a Grad rocket was fired at the southern city of Be’er Sheva, which was targeted by two rockets on Saturday. The rocket Monday was preceded by “Color Red” sirens, and fell in open territory causing no damage or injuries.

Another rocket fired at the Sedot Negev Regional Council area was shot down by the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system a short time later. A second rocket followed in quick succession, hitting the same Regional Council area; it landed in open ground and caused no damage.

Three more rockets were fired a short time later, hitting open territory in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council area and causing no damage. They were followed by another two rockets that hit the Eshkol Regional Council area; reportedly no “Color Red” sirens were heard before the blasts, which caused no damage.

A growing escalation since last Wednesday

In response to the endless rocket escalation, the IAF launched airstrikes against nine terror sites in Gaza on Sunday night, with Hamas reporting that seven of its terrorists were killed in the process and threatening to make Israel pay for the reaction. Earlier Sunday night, another IAF airstrike killed two terrorists from the Islamic Jihad group in Gaza.

At the start of the escalation on Thursday, after over 40 rockets were fired at Israel in just over a day, the IDF issued an ultimatum calling on Hamas to stop the rocket fire within 48 hours or face war.

That ultimatum deadline came and went, with at least 15 rockets fired on Israel in a 12-hour period on Saturday, including two at Be’er Sheva, and as noted the rocket fire has continued since then.

Despite the total collapse of security in the south and the constant threat of rockets on a large civilian population, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday indicated he would not order a wide-scale operation in Gaza for the time being.

“Experience has proved that at moments like this, we have to act responsibly and with a cool head and not with harsh words and impetuousness,” Netanyahu said. “We will do everything in our power to restore peace and security to the south.”

Speaking to Arutz Sheva on Sunday, Deputy Education Minister Avi Wortzman (Jewish Home) dismissed the notion that “restraint is power,” saying “restraint is a scandal and a disregard for citizens. It’s that simple.”

“One million citizens have become hostages of Hamas and the government responds weakly. What is happening here is unacceptable. Hamas must understand that it will not pay off for it to continue firing rockets,” added Wortzman.