Palestinian attacks go on despite truce

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM Nov 26, 2006 (AP)— Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip as a last-minute cease-fire deal took hold Sunday morning, but two major Palestinian militant groups, saying they had no intention of stopping their attacks, fired volleys of homemade rockets into Israel.

The ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad tempered hopes for a lasting truce, which was meant to end five months of deadly clashes. The attacks caused no injuries.

A senior Israeli official said Israel would wait a few hours to see if the attacks were isolated breaches or a full-scale violation of the agreement before deciding whether to respond. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians

[Violet_Crumble]

1. Absolute stupidity...

Both those groups agreed to the ceasefire. In the article a Hamas govt spokesman says that 'all armed groups had committed to the agreement, and any violations were rogue acts.' Let's hope it's just early teething problems or something but it's not a very good sign imo...

[pelsar]

2. well that was quick...

teething problems.....thats a good description......one never knows if its internal politicsl or external....or some mixture....i hope olmert does nothing at least in the meantime

....maybe they'll get it out of their system- the need to have the "last word" (missle)

[Boston Critic]

8. Pathetic

Maybe there was just a miscommunication. Mustn't ever blame Palestinian terrorists for deliberately trying to kill Israeli civilians, must we? Even when they violate a ceasefire -- and both Hamas and Islamic Jihad were quick to accept the blame for it -- it's still Israel's fault.

<sigh>

Absolutely incredible.

[Violet_Crumble]

12. I assume you meant to reply to the OP, not my post...

I have no idea why yr going on about it still being Israel's fault, as no-one in this part of the thread had hinted or even said it was. The blame was put fairly and squarely where it belongs - with the militants who were firing the rockets...

[cali]

3. Why the hell did they agree

to a truce just to break it within hours? That makes no sense to me at all. If the attacks continue, Israel will respond, and the whole miserable cycle will once again be in full swing.

[pelsar]

4. internal politics....

at least thats my guess.....and a very murky place that is (embarrass abbas?)

[pretzel4gore]

6. maybe agents of israeli extremists are doing it?

israeli agents have shot 'homemade' rockets at israel, blaming hezbollah....too much 'news' from that area of world is madeup, to lend that bushboy a hand......until a stake is driven into the heart of that evil fukker's family, even the sun coming up in the morning must remain suspect....

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Boston Critic]

9. Certainly most of the attacks against Israel are lies

Glad you agree that the news coming from the Palestinian side is mostly "made up."

[Englander]

5. Update -

'All Gaza militants agree to respect truce - PM

26 Nov 2006 11:02:24 GMT
Source: Reuters

GAZA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - All the major militant factions in the Gaza Strip agreed to halt rocket fire into Israel on Sunday after earlier violating a truce, Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said.

"Contacts were made with the political leaderships of the factions and there is a reaffirmation of the commitment of what has been agreed to," Haniyeh said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26798899.htm

[Boston Critic]

10. We've heard this already

Let's see if they're not lying this time.

[Englander]

13. That's the spirit. n/t

[Scurrilous]

11. Israel kills Palestinian gunman, woman despite truce

<snip>

"Israeli troops killed two Palestinians, including a local militant commander, in the West Bank on Monday, during clashes that raised doubts over how long a shaky truce in the Gaza Strip might last.

The Popular Resistance Committees militant group said the commander was one of its members. The faction is one of the groups behind rocket fire from Gaza that tailed off on Sunday as a truce with Israel took hold.

"The crime of the assassination of Abdel-Razek Baker will not pass without punishment," the group said in a statement, referring to the 22-year-old militant.

It said it would discuss with other factions whether they should continue to honour the Gaza truce."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27831908.htm



Islamic Jihad: Suicide attack on the way

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3333001,00.html

Senior organization official in West Bank says attacks against Israel will continue if West Bank is not included in ceasefire agreed upon between Jewish State and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza Strip

<snip>

"The Islamic Jihad called Monday on Palestinian factions to reject a ceasefire with Israel that went into effect on Sunday morning.

Sheikh Mohammad Saadi, the head of the Islamic Jihad in Jenin, says the ceasefire should be abolished because it doesn't apply to the West Bank and therefore allows Israel to continue its military operations against armed groups there."

<snip>

"An Islamic Jihad spokesman said Monday condemned an Israeli operation in Qabatiya in which two Palestinians were killed, accusing Israel of continuing to commit crimes against the Palestinians.

On Sunday, Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Sallah said Israel is deliberately provoking his group by continuing to target its members.

"This agreement gives the enemy the freedom to act and assassinate and arrest in the West Bank and this division of the Territories between Gaza and the West Bank hold dangerous political consequences – as it presents a base for a temporary Palestinian State in Gaza as Israel and its allies want. Although we want to decrease the suffering of our people, we believe the truce agreement under its current format doesn't serve the interests of the Palestinian people," he said."

[oberliner]

14. Would you consider Israel's action to be a violation of the truce?

Even though it took place in the West Bank as opposed to Gaza?

[idontwantaname]

15. maybe not a "violation" but definitely not a good gesture

if history teaches us anything its that theres 2 cookie jars and so far the IDFs continued to have its hand in at least one.

its like the US declaring a truce in mosul but continuing its occupation and attack in baghdad. mosul may be quiet for a week or two but aint nobody going to be happy about whats going on in baghdad, know what im sayin?

[Scurrilous]

16. Technically no...

...but it's interesting to note that the faction the killed man belonged to is one of those taking credit for today's 'rogue' Quassam launches.


Confusion in PA: Who launched Qassam?

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3333348,00.html

<snip>

"There has been general confusion in the Palestinian Authority after a Qassam rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into the western Negev. One of the cells of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Fatah's military arm, has taken responsibility for the firing.

However, Abu Ahmad, one of the group's senior officials in the northern Gaza Strip, said to Ynet that he had no knowledge that his people carried out the shooting."

<snip>

"A Palestinian security official said to Ynet that the Palestinian security forces estimate that the firing was carried out by members of the Salah a-Din Brigades, the military arm of the Popular Resistance Committees, in response to the assassination of one of its members in Qabatiya, next to Jenin.

The official continued, saying that his people are doing their best in order to prevent recurrent firings, but emphasized that the easiest way to ensure this is for Israel to halt operations that are likely to cause the Palestinian organizations to renew the firing."