About time. "Israelis launches [sic] offensive against Islamic Jihad," from AP, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
JENIN, West Bank (AP) — Israeli troops entered this West Bank town Thursday and arrested a top Islamic Jihad leader, pushing forward with what Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called a "broad and non-stop" offensive against the Palestinian militant group after a suicide bombing that killed five Israelis. Israel launched the operation with four airstrikes in Gaza early Thursday, targeting open fields used by militants to fire rockets, the army said.In the afternoon, about 35 jeeps, backed by Apache helicopters, entered Jenin and troops surrounded the home of Abdel Khalim Izzadin. After a brief standoff, Izzadin and three other men surrendered, witnesses said. The army confirmed it carried out an operation in Jenin and said troops were withdrawing.
The offensive — launched a day after the bombing for which Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility — will include airstrikes and artillery attacks in Gaza and arrest raids in the northern West Bank, where Wednesday's bomber came from, a military official said on condition of anonymity under military regulations.
As a last resort, Israel could re-enter Gaza, which it evacuated last month. Israeli media reported that troops would also retake Palestinian towns and conduct house-to-house searches....
The attack came hours after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised suicide bombings and said Israel should be "wiped off the map."Sharon, during a meeting with the Russian foreign minister, called for Iran to be tossed out of the United Nations for the president's comments, which drew wide international condemnation.
"The prime minister said that a state which calls for the destruction of another people cannot be a member of the United Nations," according to a statement released by his office.
Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz approved the latest offensive in a series of overnight telephone calls, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.
"Islamic Jihad has declared war on every Israeli civilian and of course we're 100% entitled to take the appropriate action to defend our civilians," Regev said.
Boo Yaw!
Israel has every right to take care and protect its citizens from these Islamic murderers. As far as that Iranian Terrorist, the so called president of the Islamic Republic of Iran is concerned, he is like and empty drum, just making a big noise that no civilized person would give a second thought.
Israel is the only democratic nation in that whole region and has a standard of living comparable with any western nation. They need all our support.
Yes, Sharon will order the IAF to attack lots of empty fields and vacant metalwork shops; that will show the Palestinians that they had better not blow up Israeli civilians. If I had a nickel for every time the GOI announces it is going to launch a merciless attack against Palestinian terrorism, I would be able to rebuild Arafat's demolished headquarters in Ramallah. Oh I forgot, the Japanese are spending $10 million to do that.
The Israeli government may or may not realize that this terror war of attrition will only end when the Pals have been thoroughly routed but when that day arrives AND the US government allows the IDF to finally take off the gloves, that is when there will be real peace in the ME.
What are the details of how the bomber got from Jenin into Israel? The fence is not complete in a lot of areas. Did he sneak in through these incomplete areas or did he come in through a gate with access OK'd by border staff? I know a fence cannot keep Isreal 100% free of terrorism, but would like to know how he got in and was the suicide vest with him at the time.
Charles:
Largely agree with you.
Have to think that both Defence(U.S.-Rumsfeld) and Mossad know something which tells them to stay their hand at present (this could be just my wishful thinking).
The gates of hell again?
Yawwwnnn....
"Israel launches offensive against Islamic Jihad"
blah, blah, yada, yawnnnnn.......snoooze.
Real King David stuff here. I'm sure the genocidal, satanic, arab, muslim terrorists are on the verge of retreat and apology.
Israel is another inch closer to her demise.
Perhaps, Itai, but with you running things, they'd be yards if not miles closer.