By Ted Belman
As I see it, Israel has no stomach for a ground invasion. Israel is deterred by Hamas from doing so. So Israel is left to position its goals as quiet for quiet or perhaps a little better, quiet for extended quiet.
But with over 1000 sorties, Hamas is still not deterred by Israel.
This is unacceptable and it is the reality.
The question comes up, why does Israel not seek to destroy Hamas Now is the time when Islamists are preoccupied elsewhere.
Evidently 4000 Gazans heeded Israel’s warning to leave their homes in the north. That’s a good thing. But Israel failed to demolish the area which she should have done. Then move on to another area.
If Israel settles for calm, it will show weakness and be the opposite of maintaining deterrence.
By the way, Max Blumental, no friend of Israel wrote,
Israeli police, intelligence officials and Netanyahu knew within hours of the kidnapping and murder of the three teens that they had been killed. And they knew who the prime suspects were less than a day after the kidnapping was reported.
I never heard that before. is it true.
Israel is doing something it vowed never to do: negotiate with a PA government with Hamas as a partner.
Stupid Jews!
the phoenix Said:
This will cheer you up: http://youtu.be/_8yGGtVKrD8
the phoenix Said:
That Cab Calloway !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ honeybee:
Oy hb,
Appreciate the intention….but this guy kinda’ looks like al sharpton…
So now my mood is TOTALLY in the dumps …
🙁
@ yamit82:
@ the phoenix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBOgH5f36cQ
@ yamit82:
To call this whole situation “grotesque” would be akin to calling Mt Everest a tall hill….
🙁
Dumbfounded and speechless.
yamit82 Said:
” Oh Methuselah lived 900 years
Oh Methuselah lived 900 years
If you call that liven, when no gal will give in
To a man what’s lived 900 years.” Porgy & Bess G Gershwin
Details of Egyptian Ceasefire Proposal
Egypt is trying to pull a fast one Israel to help itself to regain prominence.
The al-Sisi regime’s proposal first demands, “Israel shall cease all hostilities against the Gaza Strip via land, sea, and air, and shall commit to refrain from conducting any ground raids against Gaza and targeting civilians.”
Is the maritime blockade against the smuggling of terrorists and weapons into Gaza a “hostility”? Does this proposal mean that Israel must open the seas for Iran to send even more advanced weapons to Gaza?
Egypt demands from Hamas, “All Palestinian factions in Gaza shall cease all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel via land, sea, air, and underground, and shall commit to refrain from firing all types of rockets, and from attacks on the borders or targeting civilians.
“Crossings shall be opened and the passage of persons and goods through border crossings shall be facilitated once the security situation becomes stable on the ground.”
What does “stable” mean? A ceasefire that lasts two hours? Or two days? Or maybe even two weeks?
Does “stable “mean that Gaza terrorists attacked Israel “only” with one or two Kassam rockets?
“ Other issues, including security issues shall be discussed with the two sides.
“Method of implementation of the initiative:
“ It has been decided to initiate implementation of the de-escalation agreements at — : — hours (GMT) on — / 7 / 2014, pending the implementation of a full ceasefire within twelve hours of the announcement of the Egyptian initiative and its unconditional acceptance by both sides.”
Apparently, the blanks means that neither Hamas nor Israel is ready to sign as of yet. Making the proposal public is intended to pressure both sides to do so.
“ High-level delegations from both the Israeli government and the Palestinian factions shall be hosted in Cairo within 48 hours of the initiation of the initiative’s implementation, in order to conclude talks for the consolidation of the ceasefire and resume confidence-building measures between the two sides; talks shall be held with each of the two sides separately (in accordance with the agreements for the consolidation of de-escalation in Cairo in 2012).”
In other words, the “peace process” now will involve Hamas and Israel, with Cairo brokering the talks. Next step is U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s getting on stage again and playing out another round of peace talks, with Hamas and Fatah sitting as peace partners for Israel.
honeybee Said:
I was there when “Samuel returned after Saul, and Saul prostrated himself before HaShem. Samuel then said, ‘Bring me Agag, king of Amalek.’ And Agag went to him submissively. And Agag said, ‘Surely, the bitterness of death has passed.’ And Samuel said, ‘As your sword made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.’ And Samuel cut Agag into pieces before HaShem in Gilgal.” (I Samuel 15:31-33)
Remember it well!!! Sam was a real pissed off Prophet 😉
yamit82 Said:
Darlin, none of us but you are old enough to remember !!!!!!!!!
Kerry May be Behind Egyptian Proposal for Ceasefire
Does anyone in the Israeli government remember what happened to King Saul when he did not eliminate the king of Amalek?
Kerry May be Behind Egyptian Proposal for Ceasefire
Does anyone in the Israeli government remember what happened to King Saul when he did not eliminate the king of Amalek?
.
Egypt reportedly will announce a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel on Tuesday, the same day U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to visit Cairo although neither Israel nor Hamas has expressed any public desire for an unconditional halt in the latest round of violence.
Egyptian media reported the ceasefire will be announced at 6 a.m. and it will take effect three hours later.
Kerry has been almost totally silent since the start of the current mini-war, but his plan to visit Egypt exactly when the Sisi regime reportedly will announce a ceasefire raises the obvious probability that the not-so-illustrious Secretary of State has been trying once again to “solve” problems in the Middle East, where he has left behind a mess almost every time he visits.
Egypt also would love to repair the damage of the Muslim Brotherhood regime and play the role as peacemaker.
Another bad actor in the ceasefire proposal is Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair , who met al-Sisi on Saturday to orchestrate a ceasefire.
Hamas has said it will not agree to a halt in attacks on Israel without its conditions being set, a bit ludicrous considering it has been literally knocked out and barely has retained consciousness. It also has been welcomed with a thunderous silence by the Arab world towards Hamas’ weakened status after having committed almost every diplomatic and military mistake possible.
Hamas needs the ceasefire if by doing so Egypt will re-open the Rafah crossing and allow free flow of goods and merchandise, the lack of which might have cost Hamas dearly in the eyes of Gazans.
One big benefactor of a ceasefire would be Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who would be in a position to gain more prestige from the international community to dominate the Hamas-Fatah unity government.
Kerry undoubtedly has lunatic ideas that a resumption of the “peace process” with the Hamas-Fatah regime would follow a “halt in hostilities,” as the Egyptian proposal described it.
Based on previous ceasefires, the Egyptian plan will not get very far, if it ever gets to the stage of being proclaimed.
After Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009 and the Pillar of Cloud campaign nearly two years ago, Israel agreed to ceasefires after pummeling Hamas, which used the breaks between resume violence to stockpile more missiles and rockets.
The difference for Israel in the current Protective Edge campaign is that the government is in a far better position than before. The world is increasingly fed up with Hamas, and the IDF has been unusually effective in proving that it has does everything possible to avoid civilian casualties while Hamas has been exposed as doing what it can it increase them. There are few accusations against Israel of “war crimes,” in sharp contrast to the previous counter terrorist campaigns.
Israel’s good standing may be the underlying reason why
yamit82 Said:
Mother,Mother may I go in swimming,
Yes my darling daughter,
Hang your cloths on a Hickory limb,
but don’t go near the water.
Egypt proposes Gaza ceasefire deal
After reports say Kerry to arrive in Egypt to help broker deal, reports say Israel, Hamas agree to deal which will come into effect 9 am Tuesday morning.
Hmmmm: US Warns Israel Against Ground Offensive in Gaza
White House statement defends Israel’s right to self-defense, but also stresses caution in preventing more deaths in Gaza.
End game but for whom?
PA hopes ceasefire will yield restart of peace talks
Officials push for int’l conference, concerned that a truce without a renewal of negotiations will damage future diplomatic efforts
Cabinet to meet on Egyptian cease-fire plan Tuesday morning
@ Ted Belman:
I wrote a critique of Max Blumenthal article and it was spammed. Pls retrieve
@ Ted Belman:
Not factual. It could be assumed the kids were killed, but the policy of the IDF and all security agencies along with the government is to always work on the assumption that the victims are alive until they are positive that they are not.
The families were informed of the audio tape before it was LEAKED and I understand even were allowed to hear the whole audio tape and too identify the voice who called in to the police. The family all through the three weeks kept the information to themselves and also acted on the hope and assumption that the kids were alive or at least some of them even one of them…. Going public with unconfirmed assumptions would serve no ones interest especially the families of the victims.
It is standard police and Shabak practive in such cases to hold back as much information as possible until they can’t any longer or they believe such information would serve the interests of their investigation. I don’t see there is a political angle here. As soon as they had the names of the Kidnapper/murderers they allowed that information out along with their accusation that the two named suspects belonged to Hamas as do their whole family and clan in Hebron who are all known to the police and the Shabak… Nobody claimed that either the political or military wings of Hams were a party to the kidnapping but that did not mean they werenot tied to Hamas or the long standing policy of Hamas to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians to bargain for release of Palis prisoners, whenever things go south they always kill the victims or kill them and bargain for their remains. A few weeks before this incident a Jew working with Arabs in a Restaurant was lured by his Arab friend to go to his village where he killed him…. Same MO same motivation.
I agree BB and the Shabak used the tragedy to go after Hamas in Y&S as opportunistic. Abu Abbas was in on it because Hamas was building for several years a solid infrastructure in Y&S and both Israel and Abbas feared they would takeit over either through elections or by force from Abbas abd his Fatah PLO factions. In a matter of days Israel destroyed years of work and planing by Hamas in preparation for the coup. Nobody except Max Blumenthal and Hamas seems to be upset over what Israel did.
So it’s true but Israel can multitask and do both search for the victims their kidnappers and murderers and take down Hamas in Y&S with the aid and complicity of Abbas and his security force because their was a confluence of interests between Israel and the PA.
No evidence to support this calumny.
The police and IDF were embarrassed and pilloried by the press and public and after an internal investigation senior heads rolled and were fired from the force. No conspiracy but long standing carelessness and incompetence.
I don’t see nefarious motives by the Shabak except to keep the policy of always operating under the assumption that one or more might still be alive and to lessen the pressure and grief to the three families until there was a positive confirmation of fact. blood does not automatically mean death nor how many. There have been several cases where it took months even years to find the bodies of victims.
In defense of the police and IDF the forces are always operating short on manpower and the 100 emergency (911) is prone to many daily pranks mostly by Arabs who never hang up and keep the rotary tied up until they can break to call in.
Not true the suspects names were released with days and the security forces do not normally publish names or relevant information unless the information is leaked or serves the interest of the investigation. Gag orders are quite usualin Israel.
You kidnap our kids coming home from school why is it surprising for most Israelis to feel the way they did with or without any manipulation. Facts ae they were kidnapped and murdered.
What crap. This asshole never particpated in a field search in rough terrain. Sometimes things are missed even when they seem to be under your nose. The volunteers from the nature field school in Gush Etzion knew the terrain and operated under the direction of the IDF. It was not an ad-hock operation.
The article is a hatchet job using some facts lots of innuendo and suppositions unsupported all with an anti Israel political slant.
7 hrs till cease fire takes effect (Barf)
The sooner this government is replaced the better for all of us. Details seem to be keeping all elements of Amud Anon in place not advantages to Israel. Hamas fought the great IDF to a virtual Tie. I am ashamed of our leaders of all stripes.
PS-The military adviser of BB is still Ehud Barak which seems to fit.
@ Ted Belman:
Haven’t read it yet I will and get back to you.
I hear a cease fire is in the works and the guns have been silent for a couple of hours on both sides. Egypt is the conduit.
@ yamit82:
Yes I was asleep at the wheel a bit not imbibing on Hebrew media. I hardly took notice of the shots recorded and what I focused on was the Government saying it was proceeding on the basis that the boys were still alive. I accepted that. Did you read the whole of Blumenthal’s article? What do you think. Is it fair or over the top. Do you fault Bibi for hiding it in order to wipe out Hamas from J&S?
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2:
Scenes from protests worldwide against Israel in Cast Lead Operation.
Part 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J9ZHRJQAKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EYg3ROXlWY
SHmuel HaLevi 2 Said:
Were they even matter of regard in the first place.
@ SHmuel HaLevi 2:
The pestilent growth is wasting no time. They already re started the spread on the Islamic youngster killing
Not a word about the three Jewish boys. Forgotten already…
The propaganda machine continues to shift the pea and now Netanyahu will obtain the fantastic achievement of re activating the 2012 “deal” with Hamas.
All hams detainees will go free.
And attacks of Jews will resume.
yamit82 Said:
Agreed. With Kerry coming to Israel a ceasefire will happen. Netanyahu made his point and every one goes home happy. No one expected Israel to topple Hamas. It was never in the cards.
@ yamit82:
Glad to see you’re still kicking and being spammed. You have deserted me and left me to the tender mercies of dweller. You and Dagmar take care, Sugar.
@ Bear Klein:
I addressed this in detail but it was spammed by the Spam filter. Maybe Ted will retrieve and post???
Several reasons. First BB and the IDF are strong conflict avoidance believers. BB is afraid of failure and many casualties without succeeding in conflict war aims. If there are many casualties he will have lost even if he wins.
He does not want Hamas destroyed because 1- They provide an address to be held responsible and to deal with from handling supplies sent into Gaza to controlling more militant armed militias and organizations in Gaza.
2- There is the political side in that Hamas provides a buffer for opposing a final agreement with the Palis under Abbas.
3- There are economic interests in keeping Hamas in power as consumers of goods and materials supplied by monoplies held by Israeli vested interests many being ex senior IDF and Shabak officers.
4- As long as Hamas runs things the Gas fields off Gaza cannot be exploited by the PA.
BB was so against answering Hamas provocations thatin the end he encouraged them to attack Israel and they knew that BB would not go all the way. If the leadership of Hamas is left intact with most of their rockets and production facilities intact they will have won this round. Qatar will pay for the reconstruction provide jobs for the Palis and Israelis will benefit for resupplying the with all necessary building material, free electricity land line telecommunications, fresh water, food and fossil fuels.
BB can turn to Israelis and tout the physical damage inflicted on Gaza and Hamas as proof he is strong and since few Israelis were injured and even fewer killed he will tout his wise and moderate behavior. Something for everyone.
The left will love him the right will complain and BB will remain in place.
The best Israel can expect from this round with Hamas is a similar agreement as the one agreed on under Morsi in 2012 with possibly some minor fig leaf worthless tweaks.
Bottom line it was never BB’s intention to topple Hamas only to give em a black eye for domestic considerations.
Hamas understands BB better than BB understands Hamas and because of that Hamas will come out a winner or at least not a net loser in this conflict.
BB is the weakest most cowardly PM in Israels history and he ain’t going to change his nature, ever UNLESS Sara tells him to.
I have some expertise from my long past life in law enforcement or similar experiences and the tape sounds very much like the boys were killed within minutes. It is not conclusive 100% but that was the most likely scenario. So surely anyone with similar experience would have concluded that the boys were probably shot. The FBI after the fact came to the same conclusion.
According to the telephone recording called into the police by one of the kidnapped kids saying he was kidnapped, they heard in same recording several shots the murderers laughing and singing afterwards and IB radio high volume in background. They all assumed the kids were killed by same shots. They informed the parents of the strong possibility as well soon afterwards. They also had the names of at least two of the kidnapping murderers within hours. All of this is in the public record, broadcast hundreds of times on all radio and TV stations for days after the event.
According to the telephone recording called into the police by one of the kidnapped kids saying he was kidnapped, they heard in same recording several shots the murderers laughing and singing afterwards and IB radio high volume in background. They all assumed the kids were killed by same shots. They informed the parents of the strong possibility as well soon afterwards. They also had the names of at least two of the kidnapping murderers within hours. All of this is in the public record, broadcast hundreds of times on all radio and TV stations for days after the event.
If you are unaware of these facts Ted it means you do not listen to or watch Israeli radio and TV stations nor read most on line Israeli newspapers.
Quite an awakening Ted.
And is not “Israel” that has no stomach, it is the trash passing as leaders of Israel. I am an old soldier and today I observed a couple of videos portending training of troops preparing for a Gaza operation. I would have preferred that not being shown. It re enforces my previous reports.
Regrettably the same applies to ALL scenarios we must confront.
I also repeatedly and consistently provided a Platform of guidelines including what to do to change the condition.