Army warns more residents to prepare for rocket fire

Dec. 8, 2008

The Israeli army widened the range of rocket fire threats all the way to Ashdod - a 15-mile distance from northern Gaza. The new threat zone encompasses 500,000 Israelis.

The warning on Monday advised Ashdod residents to begin preparing themselves for the possibility of rockets. Defense officials have estimated that Hamas has acquired rockets with a 15-mile range.

The improved weaponry is attributed to more effective weapons smuggling through the Egyptian border. Writing in Ynet, Alex Fishman draws some sobering conclusions:

In the past week, Hamas fired about 100 rockets. A month ago, when the IDF operated against a Gaza Strip tunnel, Hamas fired 30 industrial Grad rockets in order to signal to Israel that it intends to dictate a different kind of lull. If Hamas can afford to fire 30 Grads just to signal, it means its weapons warehouses must be full.

According to Israeli estimates, Hamas has an emergency supply of fuels and food that would enable it to withstand a month-long Israeli assault. Instead of preparing for war, perhaps it would be better if the group handed out all those goods in the warehouses to hungry Gaza residents.

Frightening.

Radio host asks resident: Is it irresponsible to live near Gaza?

Dec. 8, 2008

Israelis are known to be left wing and to support appeasement. As a matter of fact, a majority of Israelis support the creation of a Palestinian state, but simultaneously recognize that it will seek to destroy the Jewish state.

But a reporter on Voice of Israel government radio crossed the line when she insinuated that living in legal and undisputed Israeli neighborhoods near Gaza is irresponsible. Host Anat Dolev interviewed Batya Holin who lives in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located less than a mile from the Gaza separation barrier where rockets rain down even during "cease-fires."

Holin said it is the government of Israel that is irresponsible for allowing its citizens to live under these threats for years. She also warned that the government's plans to surrender Judea and Samaria will only serve to bring Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in rocket range.

"All of the people of Israel understand what we are doing here, but the leaders do not care. Is that responsible?" she asked. "Tel Aviv is next."

US still enemy of the Palestinians, ambassador says

Dec. 8, 2008

Well, the rise of the oceans may be slowing and perhaps our planet is beginning to heal, but the image of the US hasn't improved yet in our enemies' eyes.

Despite having elected Barack Obama as president, which was supposed to resolve issues with all hostile nations, the US remains an enemy of the Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon.

Abbas Zaki told Lebanon's OTV that the Palestinian Authority will view the United States as an enemy as long as the US has a strategic alliance with Israel.

Zaki was asked how Israel or the US could be considered enemies by the Palestinians if they are currently in peace negotiation and providing aid to Palestinians. He replied that the PA is just putting on a show in order to negotiate with Israel and US because it has no other choice at this time.

This is the ambassador speaking. Diplomatic, hey? Zaki insists that even though Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas regularly refers to the US as a friend of the Palestinians in public addresses, he doesn't really mean it.