First, rocket fire issued from the Gaza Strip at the hands of Hamas operatives into Israel, for days.
Then more than 50 Israeli air strikes were launched into Gaza, one of which killed Hamas leader Ahmed al-Jabari (his vehicle below) on Wednesday.
Egypt proceeded to back Hamas — no shock.
A Hamas rocket then killed three Israelis on Thursday, north of the Gaza Strip itself.
From the WashingtonPost.com:
Israeli officials ordered all residents living within 25 miles of the Gaza Strip to stay indoors, in shelters or in safe rooms. Israel also dropped leaflets overnight into Gaza warning residents to “stay away from Hamas and other terror organizations, operatives and facilities that pose a risk to their safety.”
If drawn out, the Israeli campaign could paralyze the crowded Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, trigger barrages of retaliatory attacks from the organization and its regional allies, and upend already cool relations between Israel and Egypt.
Is this the match flare that lights the true candle?
BZ
UPDATE: MISSILES IN TEL AVIV
From Bloomberg.com:
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak signaled that Israel is ready to escalate its military operations against Gaza after at least one long-range missile was fired at Tel Aviv by Palestinian militants.
The missile attack and the volume of fire in general toward Israel “is an escalation and there will be a price to pay,” Barak said on Channel 2 television yesterday. It was the first such attack on Israel’s commercial hub since Iraqi missiles in 1991 during the Gulf War.
VERY possible, I think Israel is taking out the low hanging fruit (so to speak), before they go after Iran.
I find it difficult to believe that Egypt actually will go after Israel if Hamas keeps lobbing rockets into Israel. Egypt isn’t quite militarily what it used to be, organizationally. That would be a very poor decision on its part.
Unless you want the entire planet sucked up into that conflagration.
BZ
“Unless you want the entire planet sucked up into that conflagration.”
That may be the intent… Islam says they will dominate or destroy.. Can you think of a better way to accomplish that fete?
Well, they’re on the path. So far it’s relatively localized.
BZ
Let me say this in no uncertain terms. The entire region NEEDS TO EXPLODE INTO TOTAL WAR. There needs to be a clear winner in a short period of time. IF that is the field we all play on FINE. Let China/Russia/USA/Israel and all who want to play, play. This is the last chance. Until it happens the threat of it will continue to ruin nations slowly. The threat of it is WORSE than the actual event.
Israel needs to wipe out gaza right now. Then let Iran’s play be visualized. And let Israel do what needs to be done. They have NO SUPPORT from the WH, but the American people will flood Israel will support in money/blood and arms.
They succumbed to global pressure to “play nice” with Hamas and the so-called “Palestinians.” They’re paying a price that no other nation — who advocated and demanded their enemies be placed directly at their doorstep — has to pay.
It’s all well and good when it’s not YOUR neighborhood and YOUR children and parents and wives and husbands and soldiers involved.
BZ
Armageddon? Some of my Bible Scholar friends say no. I do think Israel will do what they need to do to survive. Agree with Robert but don’t think that will happen. The Lightbringer will “monitor”.
Anyone wondering about December 21st?
BZ
Israel whipped Egypt not long ago. Egypt receives billions from the USA and UN. China’s not ready for war. Syria is imploding in civil war. Lebanon’s not a factor.
Pakistan is to busy being corrupt. Saudi Arabia is busy trying to protect themselves and their race horses. Iraq is temporarily closed. Tiny Yemen is toothless. Afghanistan isn’t interested. And it’s doubtful that Turkey would support Hamas anywhere. So, the only substantial threat to Israel is Iran and the two criminal gangs; Hamas and al Quaeda. Israel can handle the immediate situation – but America needs to stand behind them.
The formation of a supposed Perfect Storm indeed.
BZ
Just checking site structure and functions.. Never mind the man behind the curtain.
Nothing to see here.
These are not the droids you’re looking for.
Move along, move along.
BZ
The “Rules of Engagement” will have to (and WILL) change soon. How else can Israel and/or the West win anything if we can’t kill alleged “civilians” when they are used as human shields? We won’t see 2014 without seeing a HUGE blowup in that area first. It’s been a LOOOOONG time coming and it’s way over due. When the dust clears, the Iranian nuclear risk will have been solved, and so will the palestinian problem. What few remain alive can go live in Afghanistan. There’s all kinds of room there and the place is just as hell holish as what they are used to.
Years ago, Dr. Walid Phares told me personally that different Islamic factions will band together if they have a common goal.
Well, they clearly do have a common goal, don’t they?
And with the debacle that Obama has made of our foreign policy, these factions see Islam rising. You can make damn sure that these factions are exploiting the situation right now. Target one = Israel.
An old Middle Eastern axiom, as true TODAY as before:
“Me against my brother, me and my brother against my cousins; me, my brother and my cousins against our nonrelatives; me, my brother, my cousins and friends against our enemies in the village; all of these and the whole village against the next village.”
Dr Phares is correct.
BZ