By HERB KEINON,YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST
08/07/2014
Prime minister says “Hamas chose to escalate the situation and it will pay a heavy price for doing so”; preparations underway for further call up of reservists.
Following high level security deliberations Tuesday morning Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided to expand the military operation in Gaza, including beginning preparations for a ground operation.
The deliberations took place following a Monday night rocket barrage on Israel and the feeling in Jerusalem that Hamas is interested in escalation.
No time limit was put on the operation but senior diplomatic officials said it could be “for a long time.”
Preparations are underway to further call up reservists and in a number of hours there will be announcements by the IDF Home Front Command on how citizens should behave.
The objective of the operation, according to the officials, is to return quiet to the South, but the equation that “quiet would be met with quiet” was no longer the operative principle.
During the day Netanyahu expected to talk to a number of world leaders to explain Israel’s position and another security cabinet meeting will be held later in the afternoon if necessary.
Netanyahu said Tuesday that the time had come to “take off the gloves” against Hamas.
“Hamas chose to escalate the situation and it will pay a heavy price for doing so,” the prime minister said.
Following the launching of Operation Protective Edge to extinguish Hamas rocket fire, Israel declared a “special situation” in all areas of the South within 40 kilometers of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning.
A special situation is a legal decree that allows various authorities to safeguard public safety through a variety of means reserved for times of conflict.
The decision came after Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon completed a security evaluation meeting with the Home Front Commander, Maj.-Gen. Eyal Eizenberg, as well as other civil defense chiefs, in which they examined the latest developments in the clash with Hamas.
“We are prepared for a campaign against Hamas, which will not end within days. Hamas is leading the current confrontation to a place in which it seeks to exact a heavy price from our home front. There is a need for patience,” Ya’alon said at the end of the meeting.
The defense minister called on the public to behave in accordance with Home Front Command safety instructions, adding that it is vital that the Israeli home front not sustain casualties.
“In recent hours, we have struck with force and hit dozens of Hamas assets. The IDF is continuing with the offensive effort, in a manner that will exact a very heavy price from Hamas. We will not tolerate missile and rocket fire on Israel, and we are prepared to expand the campaign through all of the means available to us, to continue striking Hamas,” he continued.
“I’d like to send my support to residents of the South and to local government leaders there, who are displaying leadership and responsibility, and are allowing us to continue with the offensive efforts,” Ya’alon added.
JPost.com Staff contributed to this report.
http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Netanyahu-The-time-has-come-to-take-the-gloves-off-against-Hamas-361905
WHEN WILL N. FINALLY ADMIT THAT THE ARABS ARE WAGING A FULL SCALE WAR!!!!!!!
THE ROCKETS ARE NOW DIRECTED TOWARD ISRAEL’S NUCEAR REACTOR. AND HITTING ALL POINTS IN ISRAEL.
ISRAEL IS STILL PROVIDING FOOD ETC. TO THE ENEMY; AND DIRECTING THEIR ROCKETS AT LIMITED TARGETS,, WARNING FIRST.
NOW N IS LIKE NERO, FIDDLING WHILE ISRAEL BURNS.
THE ISRAELI PEOPLE NEED TO MARCH ON THE KNESSET EN MASSE, NOW; AND DEMAND A MILITARY TAKE OVER, TO STOP A HOLOCAUST.
FORGET O AND THE EU, THE VATICAN, THE..IF NOT, ISRAEL WILL BE IN PIECES AND THE PEOPLE DEAD.
THIS IS TOTALLY NUTS.
do they have verbal diarhea, they have said this so many times every time something happens. Apparently living in the mideast turns one into a boasting arab. No need to talk, just kill them all, people will then know what you are saying. If only the Jews could celebrate the deaths of their enemies like the arabs and muslims do.
@ Bear Klein:
There are some 700,000 Hamasnikim in Gaza. The only way to be rid of Hamas is to take those 700,000 and send them to Egypt. Yeah sure 🙂
For the past couple of years Hamas has been building their parallel networks and strength in Y&S. They hoped to either take control of PA controlled areas by the ballot box or if that fails by by violently overthrowing Abbas and co.
Israel screwed up their efforts by destroying their infrastructure in a week after the Kidnapping of the 3 Israeli kids. Then to pour salt in their wounds Israel rearrested almost 100 of the Prisoners released for Shalit most of them being associated with Hamas.
Based on their weakened position financially and with Al-Sissi in Egypt considering them enemy terrorists as part of the MB and closing the border and tunnels to Hamas Hamas has no option according to their thinking than drawing Israel into a land incursion where Tanks and heavy weapons will be next to useless thereby closing the military gap between Israel and Hamas. They hope for Israelto inflict mass casualties to inflame Muslims in Israel, Y&S and the region in support and forcing Arab, Muslim and world governments to support them against Israel and provide need financial support and prestige amongst Arabs and Muslims who might join them in Jihad against Israel.
So far they haven’t succeeded in any of their aims except to fire long range rockets at Israel which so far has claimed no Israeli casualty and almost no physical destruction after firing over 150 rockets missiles and mortars at Israel…
Even their surprise naval commando attack against a seaside Kibbutz or Army base nearby failed, were spotted by a girl soldier spotter and liquidated promptly by IDF units and aircraft.
Watch Israel offing all five on the beach/ And Palis protest against Haaretz peace conference in TelAviv. 🙂
http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/07/watch-5-hamas-naval-commandos-infiltrating-israel-gunned-down-by-idf-helicopter/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL9s9paqinU
@ drjb:
Stupid Jews we should use the rocket fire from Gaza towards Jerusalem to fire our own rockets at the Abominations on the Temple Mount and destroy the structures completely and blame Hamas for it. Shouldn’t be difficult to coordinate.
This conflict will end much like the previous two actions in 2008 and 2012. Hamas will be left in power because they serve Israels leaderships interest. There are at lest 3-4 smaller Islamic terrorist groups in Gaza who are considered more radical and militant than Hamas.
Not retaking and controlling all of Gaza seems to be a given no no for Israeli leaders. They seem to believe they need a legitimate recognized address to deal with or blame as the need arises… What Israel seems to want is a weakened Hamas and rendered benign as a threat to Israel and Israeli citizens.
Hamas is broke and they want money to pay 40,000 salaries on the payroll, Abbas so far has refused. They want Israel or Israel forcing Abbas to cough up the cash.
Doesn’t matter how much damage Israel inflicts upon them they will declare victory if for no other reason that they fired Rockets as far as Hadera, hitting TelAviv and Jerusalem. That for them is success and victory in their minds.. The leadership is underground hiding and will survive.
I see no game changing initiative on the part of Israel. By next week Obama and the EU will be pressing Israel to end it and they will.
I’ve posted elsewhere that I’m cheering for the Palestinians, who hopefully, through their stupidity will light up a fire under the asses of Bibi and co, so that he allows the IDF to destroy Hamas, no matter how many innocent civilians die. Enough of this “Hamas will pay a heavy price” bullshit. Just destroy it once and for all and kill as many of them as you can.
The craven spinelessness of Israel’s leaders does not surprise me.
Why not get the job done? You don’t need to justify to the world your right to live.
Netanyahu expected to talk to a number of world leaders to explain Israel’s position!!!! This will ensure that Israel does NOT get the job done. Talking to those who would NOT tolerate a single rocket, not for a nanosecond! Asking for PERMISSION and APPROVAL from those who want the final solution completed. They and the mainstream media do not “get it”, that the Bell Tolls for THEM too, and all this will soon come to a theatre in their home.
My father used to say, “Nothing you can do with stupid.”
All of this will end with a ceasefire.
Hamas is counting on Jewish squeamishness to keep it alive to fight another day.
Time to destroy Hamas and other Jihadis in Gaza!