Israeli Troops Enter Gaza; Bridges Hit

[transparant]

Israeli Troops Enter Gaza; Bridges Hit

By STEVEN GUTKIN
Associated Press Writer
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Israeli tanks and troops entered southern Gaza and planes attacked three bridges and knocked out electricity to the coastal strip early Wednesday, stepping up the pressure on Palestinian militants holding captive a 19-year-old Israeli soldier.

The ground troops and tanks began taking up positions in two locations east of the Gaza town of Rafah under the cover of tank shells, according to witnesses and Palestinian security officials. Palestinians dug in behind walls and sand embankments, bracing for a major Israeli offensive.

The Israeli strikes came amid intensive diplomatic efforts in the Arab world and by the United Nations. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Israel to "give diplomacy a chance."

Trying to defuse building tensions, negotiators from the ruling Hamas movement said Tuesday they had accepted a document implicitly recognizing Israel. But two Syrian-based Hamas leaders denied a final deal had been reached.




Israel said only freedom for the captive soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, could defuse the crisis, not a political agreement.

The Israeli military said in a statement that the object of the attacks on the bridges was "to impair the ability of the terrorists to transfer the kidnapped soldier." Knocking down the bridges cut Gaza in two, Palestinian security officials said.

Early Wednesday, Israeli planes fired at least nine missiles at Gaza's only power station, cutting electricity to much of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security officials said. The station's three functioning turbines and a gasoline reservoir were engulfed in enormous flames that firefighters were unable to control.

The attack raised the specter of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as water pumps in the strip are powered by electricity. Some electricity in Gaza City was restored by tapping into electricity supplied by Israel in northern Gaza.

Masked militants from various armed factions took up defensive positions around Gaza City, instructing drivers to turn their headlights off. Militants from three armed factions said they fired a rocket early Wednesday at the Israeli village of Nahal Oz, where Israeli forces are concentrated in a staging area. An Associated Press reporter saw tanks moving on the Israeli side of the border fence.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-06-27-19-23-51

Prayers up that the IDF rescues this young soldier alive and well.

 

[MorganLeFey]

Hamas says they'll kidnap more soldiers




scary, isn't it?

 

[dcentity2000]

Honestly, that area of the world is in turmoil

Both sides blow people up and both sides do so in retaliation for the other side having blown someone up. It's perpetual violence and all that really comes out of the conflict are deaths and injuries.

Anyone remember those poor kids on the beach a few weeks back? The video footage of the attack and aftermath was heart wrenching.

I pray for peace.



Rich::

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Honestly, what did Hamas think was going to happen? They will only invite more death and violence for their people.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Honestly, that area of the world is in turmoil

Both sides blow people up and both sides do so in retaliation for the other side having blown someone up. It's perpetual violence and all that really comes out of the conflict are deaths and injuries.

Anyone remember those poor kids on the beach a few weeks back? The video footage of the attack and aftermath was heart wrenching.

I pray for peace.



Rich::

I agree with your prayer.

Alas, the terrorists do not want peace. Hamas wants to destroy Israel. I'm surprised Israel is so patient. If a country bordering the USA was terrorizing for decades, it would be full scale war.

 

[eclectics]

I agree with your prayer.

Alas, the terrorists do not want peace. Hamas wants to destroy Israel. I'm surprised Israel is so patient. If a country bordering the USA was terrorizing for decades, it would be full scale war.

While I believe Israel hasn't always been the angel in this heartwrenching decades old saga, and they have made some bad decisions in the past, Hamas is definately the aggressor here. I don't understand what they thought they could gain by the kidnapping, especially now. Defies logic. I hope and pray Israel retrives their young man with a minimum of bloodshed and strife.

 

[dcentity2000]

While I believe Israel hasn't always been the angel in this heartwrenching decades old saga, and they have made some bad decisions in the past, Hamas is definately the aggressor here. I don't understand what they thought they could gain by the kidnapping, especially now. Defies logic. I hope and pray Israel retrives their young man with a minimum of bloodshed and strife.

Exactly.

I don't agree with everything Israel does and nor do I regard them as wholly innocent, but really, Hamas just takes the biscuit. They're hell bent on vaporising Israel and anyone who happens to get in the way, be they men, women or children.

Frankly, I refuse to recognise Hamas as a legitimate government of anything. They're [this word would get me banned], simple as that.



Rich::

 

[PaulaSB12]

What do we expect, their home and country was stolen from them. If someone came to my home to kick me out because they claim a 2000 year old ownership of the land I would kill them!!!!!!!

 

[DVC Sadie]

While I hugely dislike Hamas and what they represent, Israel is not completely innocent either.

I pray for peace in that region and truly hope that I may live long enough to see that occur but alas I am not confident.

 

[MorganLeFey]

What do we expect, their home and country was stolen from them. If someone came to my home to kick me out because they claim a 2000 year old ownership of the land I would kill them!!!!!!!

Paula, you have a very poor grasp of 19th and 20th century Midddle
Eastern history. you've bought the propaganda.

there have been Jewish communities in the region for well over 2000 years. Not everyone left after the Romans destroyed the Temple in the year 70. while most Jews went into exile, some stayed. there has been a Jewish presence ever since.

prior to 1948 there was no country called "Palestine" or a people called "Palestinians". the region was part if the Ottoman Empire in the 19th Century (ruled by the Turks) and became a British protectorate after World War I. the people lving in the region called themselves "Arabs" not "Palestinians".

Jewish immigration to the region began in the 19th century. immigrants came to the region and purchased land and set up communities. Jewish immigration escalated after World War II and the Holocaust.

is coming to a region, buying land or finding a job and building a comunity is "theft"...

in 1948 the UN recognized the facts on the ground and created a two state solution. the Jews accepted the decision, the Arabs did not. still, there was no "Palestine...the West Bank was part of Jordan and Gaza was part of Egypt.

the Six Day War in 1967...Jordan and Egypt intended to destroy Israel, and Israel captured territories.

they were offered the two-state solutin in the year 2000. Barak offered Gaza, the West Bank and parts of East Jerusalem -- all the territories where Palestinians live. Arafat betrayed his people by walking out of Camp David and starting an intifada.


most of the Palestinians would easily recognize Israel and accept a two state solution, if it meant they could find jobs and support their families and live in peace. it's their government that preents this from happening.

 

[cardaway]

While I hugely dislike Hamas and what they represent, Israel is not completely innocent either.

Agreed.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Anyone remember those poor kids on the beach a few weeks back? The video footage of the attack and aftermath was heart wrenching.

Yes -- I remember. It's a crime what the Palestinian terrorists did to their own people for the sake of television footage.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Paula, you have a very poor grasp of 19th and 20th century Midddle
Eastern history. you've bought the propaganda.

Sad to say, it's amazing how many people in the Western World have simply accepted the Palestinian propaganda willingly spread by the western news media. Since 2000, hoaxing has emerged as a major tool of Palestinian propaganda. Go to www.seconddraft.org to see documentary footage of faked funerals of Palestinians, staged gun battles, and professional weeping Palestinian grandmothers.