Israel launches major Gaza raid (BBC)

[Eugene]

Last Updated: Wednesday, 1 November 2006, 12:29 GMT

Israel launches major Gaza raid

Six Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in heavy clashes
in the northern Gaza Strip.

In one of Israel's biggest raids into Gaza in recent months, troops carried
out three air strikes and moved to encircle the town of Beit Hanoun.

More than 35 people were wounded in the action, which is continuing.

An Israeli military spokesman said the operation was aimed at stopping
rocket fire into Israel. Palestinian leaders have strongly condemned it.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6104858.stm

[Scurrilous]

1. Lieberman: Treat Gaza like Chechnya

Ministers approve Peretz recommendation to refrain from all-out campaign to battle arms smuggling in Gaza. Lieberman's cabinet debut: 'Emulate Russia's treatment of Chechnya.' Arab MK Barakeh: Government is trying to base it's tenure on as many Palestinian corpses as possible

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3322366,00.html

<snip>

"Wednesday saw the cabinet meet to discuss Defense Minister Amir Peretz's recommendation to refrain from embarking on an all-out offensive and stick to 'pinpointed activities' in Gaza.

The current operation in the Beit Hanoun area continues, with reports of at least six Palestinians killed and about 20 wounded. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has already condemned the operation and called it "another massacre."

<snip>

"Newly appointed Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested operating in Gaza "like Russia operates in Chechnya." Internal Security Minister Avi Dicter replied by saying that "Gaza is not Chechnya and we are not the Russians. Our tactics are completely different."

<snip>

"Chairman of the Hadash Party Muhammad Barakeh, referring to IDF operations in Gaza, said that "this government is trying to increase the circle of bloodshed and base it's tenure on as many Palestinian corpses as possible."

"The government has a consistently hawkish agenda and every time shows anew how quick it is to intensify the situation in the occupied territories," he said."

[bemildred]

3. I have reached the conclusion nobody obeys Peretz.

He is an impotent figurehead.

The notion of Chechnya as something to emulate boggles the mind.

[Scurrilous]

4. Chechnya parallel draws fire

<snip>

"A right-wing Israeli Cabinet minister was criticized for suggesting that the army fight Palestinian terrorists by adopting Russia’s tactics in Chechnya.

Israel Radio on Wednesday quoted Avigdor Lieberman, the new minister for strategic threats, as telling fellow Cabinet members that Israeli forces fighting in Gaza should “adopt the Russian model in Chechnya.”

Tens of thousands of civilians in the breakaway Russian republic were killed during a more than decade-old insurgency.

“Usually fascists adopt the same ideology and the same patterns of action,” Ahmed Tibi, an Israeli Arab lawmaker, said in response."

http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=5381

[papau]

2. Kassam rocket attacks get responded too, just as Hamas wanted to happen

Heavy Battles in Gaza, Four Kassam Rockets, One Soldier Dead
15:27 Nov 01, '06 / 10 Cheshvan 5767
by Hillel Fendel and Yechiel Spira

<snip>The stepped-up military offensive is part of ongoing efforts to bring an end to daily Kassam rocket attacks from the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza towards the western Negev and Sderot areas. Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) reports it is Israel's largest military operation in Gaza since the abduction of Corp. Gilad Shalit more than four months ago.

At least 30 Arabs have been wounded and six killed; Israeli sources report ten dead. Among the dead are terrorists of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others. The Hamas Authority government convened for an emergency situation, calling upon Israel to stop its "slaughter."

An Israeli soldier was killed during the night when terrorists shot him as he entered a building. He received emergency treatment on the spot, but died soon after. IDF soldiers later shot and hit at least two members of the cell responsible for the fatal shooting. The soldier's identity has not yet been released, but his immediate family has been notified.

Gazan terrorists fired four Kassam rockets at Sderot this afternoon (Wednesday), in two separet volleys. Two women were sent to the hospital with shrapnel wounds that were later termed "light," and several people were treated for shock. One rocket caused damage to a factory in the city's industrial zone.

The Security Cabinet met this morning to determine the extent of the operation. Though the army recommended a wide-ranging offensive, only local offensives were approved. Newly-appointed Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman reportedly told his colleagues that Israel should deal with the Kassam-launching cells the same way the Russians dealt with the Chechnyans. Asked to confirm afterwards if he had actually made this recommendation, Lieberman said only that the phenomenon of leaks from governmental meetings must be stopped.<snip>

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Englander]

6. Palestinians: 3 people killed in ongoing IDF raid in north Gaza

By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents and Agencies

Palestinian sources said three people, including two civilians, were killed Thursday and eight others injured as clashes between militants and Israel Defense Forces soldiers continued in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanun.

The three deaths bring to 11 the total number of Palestinians killed since the start of the operation in the early hours of Wednesday. The three were named as Mahmoud Fiyad, 75; Rawhi Akal, 23, and Diyab Basyuni, 15.

Akal was said to be an armed militant.

>snip

Palestinian sources said that eight people from the same family in Beit Hanun were hurt Thursday when they were hit by an IDF shell.

Hospital officials said 15 people had been wounded, including four children and a woman who were hurt when a tank shell hit their house.

"Many of those who were killed and wounded were hit by Israeli sniper fire," said Muawiyah Hassanein, a Palestinian Health Ministry official.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/783100.html

[Scurrilous]

7. In Beit Hanun, 'the whole town is being punished'

<snip>

"It took Abu al-Abed, a resident of the town of Beit Hanun in the Gaza Strip, a few seconds to realize that something was amiss in the local radio broadcasts. At 1:30 AM, the Saut al-Huriyeh (the Voice of Freedom) station reported that "Israeli special forces have taken control of houses in the Saka area of Beit Hanun."

It followed with repeated reports on the dead and wounded. But the voice and message were completely different from the usual broadcasts: "The Israel Defense Forces orders the residents of Beit Hanun not to leave their houses until further notice. The IDF action will continue until the release of the soldier Gilad Shalit and the cessation of firing on Israel. Those who assists terrorists or hide weapons in their houses will be punished. We are working to protect the residents of Israel."

Abu al-Abed, father of seven, understood from this to mean that "the Israel Defense Forces" had taken over the local broadcast.

Tanks rolled into the streets of Beit Hanun. Abu al-Abed gathered his children into one room. "A few minutes later, massive firing started. Not from a distance, but it sounded like the helicopter was right above the house," he said. "Mahmoud, aged two and a half, started crying, and so did the older ones. I could not calm them down."

A few tanks took up positions outside the homes of other families on the northern outskirts of Beit Hanun. "The radio said there were two martyrs, and two hours later - four, until we reached seven. The city is cut off and no one can leave their homes."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/783043.html