Israel, the mid-east, and Russia

[Shammu]

IDF kills al-Aqsa commander in Jenin

IDF confirms it shot at Palestinians planting explosives in Jenin, but Palestinian sources claim plain-clothes soldiers ambushed Fatah armed wing leader Fida Abu Qandil, who also serves in PA national security force, on his way to work
Ali Waked

Palestinians in Jenin reported Monday morning that a speical IDF force shot to death Fida Abu Qandil, a commander in Fatah’s armed wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, in Jenin. The IDF confirmed that they shot armed Palestinians who were caught planting an explosive device in Jenin. Sappers were called to the scene to examine the device.

Palestinians sources, however, related a different version of the incident: Sources told Ynet that Abu Qandil, who serves as a police officer in the Palestinian national security forces, was heading towards his workplace shortly after 5:00 a.m. along with an Islamic Jihad activist whom he works with.

According to Palestinians, two IDF soldiers dressed in civilian clothing and sitting in a Mazda car ambushed Abu Qandil on the way to his workplace. When Abu Qandil approached, the soldiers opened fire, killing Abu Qandil and wounding the Islamic Jihad activist, whom they then arrested. Palestinian sources said that recently, special IDF forces have been operating extensively in Jenin. A senior member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades said that they would not accept the assassination of Abu Qandil in silence, and threatened a harsh response against Israel.

Armed Palestinians hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at IDF soldiers in Jericho. No one was wounded and no damage was caused. Soldiers responded with means for crowd dispersal.

Overnight IDF forces arrested nine Palestinian fugitives in the West Bank, including three Islamic Jihad operatives suspected of involvement in the kidnapping an murder of Eliyahu Asheri. In addition, a Tanzim operative was arrested in Nablus, two Islamic Jihad suspects were detained in Bethlehem, a Tanzim operative and Islamic Jihad operative were arrested in Hebron, and an Islamic Jihad suspect was arrested west of Ramallah.

IDF kills al-Aqsa commander in Jenin

[Shammu]

 Iran asks for inter-religion cooperation to solve int'l crises
Moscow, July 4, IRNA

Iran-Religions Conference-Moscow
Head of Iran's Global Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, said here at International Conference of Heads of Monotheist Religions that cooperation among leaders and followers of all faiths is needed to solve international crises.

Taskhiri who was the second speaker at the international event and spoke on behalf of the Islamic World after the host and keynote speaker, President Vladimir Putin, also stressed that such cooperation would be the cornerstone for rationalism, and added that the means for solving those problems would be holding dialogues.

He added, "Cooperation, mutual respect, and lenience are the major elements required for holding meaningful dialogues, and such dialogues and interactions can strengthen the foundations of faith, justice, and spirituality, that are also the objectives of all true religions."
The Head of Proximity Assembly reiterated, "Islam considers rationalism, cooperation, and holding dialogues, as models for religious conduct, and those were the points stressed in late founder f the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini's famous letter to the former leader of the former Soviet Union."
Taskhiri as the representative of the Islamic delegations at the conferences appreciated the Russian President for his country's sponsoring of the international religious event, particularly stressing, "We appreciate the chance to get closer with our Christian brethren."
The Moscow International Conference of Heads of Monotheist religions began its activities on Monday in the presence of the Russian President and 150 religious leaders from 140 countries around the globe, including Muslims, Christians, Judaists, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and Shinto leaders.

President Putin said in his address, "The main objective of all monotheist religions has been the establishment of peace and justice in the world, but ethnic, religious and tribal crises are among the major threats against global peace and stability today."
He considered dialogue among religions and the existing spirit of brotherhood among them as the best manifestation of the ideals of the monotheist faiths, adding, "leading the international campaign against terrorism, and hoisting the flag for global peace and stability should be the major slogans of the monotheist faiths today."
Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador to Moscow, Gholam-Reza Ansari and the Cultural Attache of our country there, Mahdi Imanipour were among the guests at the three day international event on the eve of the G8 Summit there.

Iran asks for inter-religion cooperation to solve int'l crises

[Shammu]

UNSC must compel Israel to stop Gaza offensive: Palestine
From India

United Nations, July 4 (AP): The UN Security Council must do its part to avoid a major crisis in the Middle East by compelling Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza, the Palestinians' UN observer has said.

Riyad Mansour yesterday called the standoff over a kidnapped Israeli soldier in Gaza "critical," and urged the international community to help keep Israel and the Palestinians - as well as the entire Middle East - from "plunging into an irrevocable cycle of violence."

The council cannot abandon its responsibility "in the face of this rising threat to the already too fragile, tense and instable security situation in the Middle East," Mansour wrote in a letter to France's ambassador, who holds the rotating Security Council presidency for July.

Mansour did not say how he believes the council should act, but there is little it can do besides pass a resolution that would condemn Israel for its offensive.

The letter was delivered as the Arab League, the pan-Arab organisation, held a closed-door meeting at the UN to discuss whether to seek just such a Security Council resolution.

If the crisis becomes urgent enough, the lone Arab nation on the council, Qatar, could demand Security Council consultations immediately - possibly even today when the United Nations will be closed for the US Independence Day holiday.

The letter came as Israel pressed ahead with its offensive in Gaza Monday, part of efforts to force Palestinian militants to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, seized on June 25 in a raid on an Israeli army post.

UNSC must compel Israel to stop Gaza offensive: Palestine

[Shammu]

 Iran arab-parast president slams UN
Jul 4, 2006

Iranian arab-parast president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slammed the United Nations for its slowness to act against violence in the Palestinian territories that followed the abduction of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian arab terrorists.

"If the international organizations forget their duties in utmost irresponsibility, world nations will lose their hope in them," the state television quoted him as he beating his chest for arabs' cause as usual.

Iran's mullahs arch-foe Israel has ruled out negotiations with the captors of Gilad Shalit, 19, as well as the release of prisoners in exchange for his freedom.

According to the report, Israel sent troops and tanks into northern Gaza Monday and carried out a sixth night of air raids after warning it would use all its power to free the soldier captured on the Israel-Gaza border June 25.

Iran arab-parast president slams UN

[Shammu]

July 3, 2006 · Last updated 11:36 p.m. PT

Switzerland: Israel violating law in Gaza

By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

GENEVA -- Switzerland accused Israel of violating international law in its Gaza offensive by inflicting heavy destruction and endangering civilians in acts of collective punishment banned under the Geneva Conventions.

Switzerland said Monday that Israel's destruction last week of the main Gaza electricity power station and its attack on the office of the Palestinian prime minister were unjustified.

It also urged Israel to free dozens of arrested officials of the ruling Hamas group, including Cabinet ministers and lawmakers.

Israel has used tanks, troops, gunboats and aircraft to attack the Gaza area over the past week to press militants to free a captured Israeli soldier.

"A number of actions by the Israeli defense forces in their offensive against the Gaza Strip have violated the principle of proportionality and are to be seen as forms of collective punishment, which is forbidden," the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The arbitrary arrests of a large number of democratically elected representatives of the people and ministers ... cannot be justified," the ministry added.

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Switzerland also called for the "rapid release" of the captive Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit. But it said Israel had an obligation "to respect international humanitarian law in the measures it undertakes to liberate the captured soldier."

Israel's ambassador to Bern said Switzerland's criticism was unfair, noting that Israel was supplying Gaza's people with electricity, water, fresh food and medicine even though the ruling Palestinian Hamas group is sworn to the Jewish state's destruction.

"They have criticized us even though we are showing restraint," Aviv Shir-On told The Associated Press. "We are disappointed that the Swiss government did not issue such statements when Israel's civilian population was constantly under attack from the Gaza Strip."

The Swiss statement did not name the Geneva Conventions but referred to provisions of the 1949 treaty, which is regarded as the cornerstone of international law on the obligations of warring and occupying powers.

Switzerland, as the depositary of the conventions, has a responsibility to call meetings if it finds problems with the treaty's implementation, but it does not have special powers to interpret the document.

Both the principle of proportionality and the ban on collective punishment are found in the Fourth Geneva Convention, which spells out the obligations of occupying powers toward the civilian population under their control.

Switzerland said it had earmarked an additional $820,000 to provide medical supplies to civilians in Gaza.

Switzerland: Israel violating law in Gaza

[Shammu]

Rockets fired at Israel; army to expand Gaza operation

Three Qassams land in Negev area, causing no injuries or damage. Meanwhile, defense establishment agrees to step up military operation in Strip in near future
Shmulik Hadad

Palestinian gunmen fired three Qassam rockets into Israel from the northern Gaza Strip Tuesday morning. A rocket landed near kibbutz Yad Mordechai and two other in open fields near kibbutz Nahal Oz. No one was injured and no damage was caused.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided Tuesday that the IDF will step up its operations in northern Gaza, but the timing for a large-scale operation has not been determined yet.

Meanwhile, the army continues to fire shells at Gaza from batteries positioned near the border, and the IAF occasionally carries out actions over the area.

Sderot residents said that ever since the army entered Gaza, the number of Qassams fired at the town decreased drastically. The Sderot Municipality claimed that rocket fire dropped by 90- percent compared to the two weeks prior to the operation.

"It appears that the very presence of the IDF in the Gaza Strip dramatically influences the other side. Therefore, the town of Sderot obviously hopes and expects that the army continue to pressure all terror infrastructure in order to give a solution to the Qassam problem."

"Regardless of the operation, we pray for the wellbeing of the abducted soldier, Gilad Shalit," Municipality officials said.

Rockets fired at Israel; army to expand Gaza operation

[Shammu]

Deadlines and demands

Originally published July 4, 2006

Israel doesn't respond to ultimatums from terrorists, even when the life of one of its soldiers is at stake. That's been a given in the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestinians, whether the terrorists were loyal to the Palestine Liberation Organization or the Islamic militant group Hamas. So when Hamas' military wing yesterday conditioned the freedom of a kidnapped Israeli soldier on the release of a thousand Palestinian prisoners, the demand was a phony pretext. It was a setup for potentially stronger Israeli strikes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip than those endured during the current spate of retaliatory blows.

Hamas leaders in Syria, the patrons of its suicide squads, are to blame for this latest confrontation, which began with a June 25 attack on an Israeli military outpost in which two soldiers were killed and a 19-year-old corporal captured. This provocation has served one real aim - to enhance the political standing of Hamas' exiled leaders while marginalizing elected Hamas moderates in Gaza who were left running for cover. Israel had to respond - it rightly recognized the June 25 strike and kidnapping as a resumption of Hamas' campaign of violence.

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But its strikes in Gaza have rattled Palestinian civilians more than they have Hamas operatives. And they have united Palestinians behind their beleaguered, ineffective government.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's imperative to the army to "do all it can" to rescue Cpl. Gilad Shalit is understandable; Israelis are like the Marines in that they won't abandon one of their own. But the danger is that the two sides will be driven into ever more violent and irreconcilable positions.

Considering the history of this conflict - and the two sides' penchant for repeating history - the necessity for a third party to intervene should have been apparent from the outset. Attempts by Egypt to mediate a settlement were unsuccessful. But the job shouldn't have been Egypt's alone. The problem is that the United States and its European allies have isolated the new Palestinian leadership, politically and economically. Both have withheld aid to the Hamas-led government for its refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist or renounce violence. The Bush administration's demonization of Syria, a patron of the Hamas military leadership in Damascus, hasn't helped matters, either.

The White House should persuade other leaders in the Arab world, including Saudi Arabia, to intervene here. Leaving matters as they are would threaten a return to the violence that engulfed Israelis and Palestinians in 2000 and led to thousands of deaths over five years.

Deadlines and demands

[Shammu]

Peres rejects claim that Shalit kidnapping dented Israeli deterrence

Vice Premier Shimon Peres rejected claims by the Likud-led opposition that the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit has dented Israel's deterrence against Palestinian groups operating in the Gaza Strip.

"They say that what happened to Gilad Shalit endangers Israel's deterrence. I dispute that," Peres said.

Peres rejects claim that Shalit kidnapping dented Israeli deterrence

[Shammu]

 Peres: Arabs Should Negotiate With Themselves
10:53 Jul 04, '06 / 8 Tammuz 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres said Tuesday that the Palestinians should conduct negotiations among themselves for the release of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit - not with Israel - in order to come to an agreement on the matter.

Peres added that the terrorists' behavior, in his opinion, not only does not lead to the realization of the actualization of their political goals, but is causing fragmentation within the citizens of the Palestinian Authority.

The Vice PM, a major proponent of past and future withdrawals, spoke at a Knesset session on the development of the Negev. He refered to the terror attacks, Kassam missiles and kidnappings, as well as the tears in the nation due to the Disengagement as "the price of withdrawal from Gaza."

Peres: Arabs Should Negotiate With Themselves

[Shammu]

Gul Expresses Concern Over Palestinian - Israeli Tension
Published: 7/4/2006

   
ANKARA - ''Turkey is eager to contribute to stop the escalation of Palestinian-Israeli tension,'' said Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah, prior to his departure for the United States on Tuesday.

''Tension between Israel and Palestine is rising. Turkey, like all other countries, is uneasy because of that,'' added Gul.

He recalled that both Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers, as well as Palestinian leader, asked Turkey to do its best to calm down the situation.

Gul added, ''Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked (on the phone) to U.S. President George Bush and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and then sent his advisor Ahmet Davutoglu to Damascus to meet Syrian President. What we are trying to do is to prevent escalation. I hope we will get some results.''

Upon a question, Gul said that 'common vision document' is on common positions of Turkey and the United States, and it shows that the two countries will work together. He stressed that such a written document will be issued for the first time between the two strategic partners.

Regarding the meetings of UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari in Turkey, Gul said, ''UN Secretary General Kofi Annan exerts great efforts with goodwill (to solve the Cyprus problem). He is preparing a report which will reflect the current situation. We support all efforts of Annan. Also Gambari brought very positive messages. We have conveyed views of Turkey to Gambari. Realities on the island must certainly be taken into account.''

''Turkey is eager to contribute to stop the escalation of Palestinian-Israeli tension,''

[Shammu]

‘And Israel shall be safe again’
By Ramzy Baroud

The June 25 Palestinian fighters’ raid on an Israeli military post near the Gaza-Egypt border has sent Israel “scrambling to defend itself”, the voice of a BBC news reporter declared on the evening news.

The report was followed by an unchallenging interview with a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry, then another with an Israeli daily newspaper reporter in Washington. No Palestinian voice was heard for days. The two Israelis communicated the same tired, ominous discourse that seems to understand, thus convey, any event based on the misguided assumption that only Israeli lives matter.

There was hardly any international news source in English — including those originating from Middle Eastern Arab countries — that accepted the Palestinian predawn attack on the Israeli military base as a clear act of retaliation and a dignified one at that. After all, Israel murdered scores of Palestinian civilians in the few weeks preceding the June 25 attack, while Palestinians have refrained from following the same course, instead targeting the same Israeli soldiers who have inflicted untold hurt on the residents of Gaza.

Could it be possible that Middle Eastern arms of major news media have mistakenly overlooked what has been happening in the Gaza Strip since the supposed Israeli withdrawal in September 2005?

It all started with extremely loud sonic booms, mock bombardments and Israeli fighter jets flying low over the overpopulated and impoverished Gaza Strip. Palestinians called on the international community to interfere to stop Israeli provocations. Their calls, as usual, fell on deaf ears.

With such scare tactics, Israel wished to convey to Palestinians a loud and clear message: there is nothing for them to celebrate; Israel is still the masters of their destiny, and unlike the 2000 withdrawal from South Lebanon, Israel is leaving Gaza triumphantly, and possibly just temporarily.

Soon Israel’s mock attacks became more genuine, while the international community continued to turn a blind eye to what would soon become another routine in “liberated” Gaza. As far the media were concerned, there was hardly much to report, since Hamas, along with other Palestinian factions, refused to respond to the provocations with violent retaliation, confining themselves to a unilateral ceasefire they’d reached with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo earlier.

Fed up the with the Palestinian response — or lack thereof — Israeli officials coupled their scare tactics with menacing, specific threats, making clear that no Palestinian was immune from Israeli targeted assassinations. Indeed, they lived up to their words.

In an interesting turn of events, Hamas won the parliamentary elections in January 2006 in an astounding display of transparency and democratic process. John Hughes of the Christian Science Monitor echoed the mainstream media line that something went horribly wrong in the Middle East and that the “Hamas victory is a setback” to whatever imaginary peace process Hughes knew of.

Comforted by the unconditional support of the US government, Israel’s violent intimidation and scare tactics became much more abundant. This time, however, the Israeli war on the Palestinians became an extension of the international one led by the United States along with the ever-compliant United Nations and European Union.

While Western donors held back their aid to the point of creating a humanitarian catastrophe in the occupied territories, the US led a campaign of political coercion — in a rare display of unity between Democrats and Republicans and all “Israel’s friends” in the media.

Western media quickly coined various mantras to justify why ordinary Palestinians must suffer for choosing a parliament in a democratic election: because Hamas refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence, among other pretexts that seem to fit so well in Israel’s political agenda. Top Israeli government adviser Dov Weissglas, optimistic as always, wished to see the humour in starving Palestinians. (The economic siege) “is like an appointment with a dietician. The Palestinians will get a lot thinner, but they won’t starve to death”.

Apparently Israel was enjoying the show: getting the world to punish an occupied nation while completely losing sight of Israel’s colonial expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is the most fitting manifestation of the proverbial dream come true. Of course, Israel can never be content with such limited roles. It was time to turn up the heat one more notch; the sporadic violence was about to be upgraded to intense violence, reaching Palestinian civilians of all ages. In the matter of seven weeks, ending on June 21 with the killing of a pregnant woman, her unborn child and her brother, and the injuring of 14 of the same family — Israel had killed 90 Palestinians, the great majority of whom civilians. This includes the killing of seven members of the same family while picnicking on a beach near the small Gaza town of Beit Lahia on June 9.

Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz justified the wanton killing of civilians, along with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as an unintended mistake, vowing to continue to fight “terrorists” who fire homemade rockets against the neighbouring Israeli town of Sderot. In the same period in which 90 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more maimed and wounded, Israeli army radio reported one injury resulting from rocket fire. No other source has confirmed the lone injury claim. However, Western media, including the BBC, is incessantly determined to equate blowing up Palestinian families with Israeli allegations of Palestinian rocket attacks: it’s a tit for tat, or so it seems. It’s equally valid, according to ignorant media dictates, to starve a nation because its government refuses to recognise a military occupier.

The US administration defended the June 9 murder of a Gaza family as an Israeli right to defend itself. BBC International refused to see the Palestinian attack on an Israeli military installation on June 25 as a Palestinian right to self-defence. To the contrary, it was Israel who once again went “scrambling to defend itself”.

It’s unclear how many Palestinians must die before Israel delivers a convincing “blow” to its unruly neighbours and before life goes back to the way it was intended to be: Palestinians being starved, humiliated and slaughtered at the hands of Israel in their dissolute Gaza ghettos. Only then, shall Israel be safe once more.

‘And Israel shall be safe again’

[Shammu]

Olmert turns heat on Syria

Israel has stepped up the pressure on arch-foe Syria, accusing it of supporting Palestinian militants behind the capture of an Israeli soldier that has sparked a new crisis in the Middle East.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Israel has stepped up the pressure on arch-foe Syria, accusing it of supporting Palestinian militants behind the capture of an Israeli soldier that has sparked a new crisis in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered security forces to pursue operations against the militants and those who command and shelter them in a reference to Damascus.

"We will hit all terrorists," he told a meeting of business leaders in the southern city of Beersheva.

"No one who attempts to harm the state of Israel will be spared."

Israel has threatened to kill Hamas leaders in Damascus and demanded Syria take responsibility for sheltering militants in the wake of the June 25 capture of Corporal Gilad Shalit on the Gaza border.

The crisis threatened to boil over Tuesday as a deadline set by Shalit's captors for Israel to release Palestinian prisoners passed and Egyptian-led mediation appeared to have fallen flat.

"We do not negotiate with terrorists," Olmert said. "We act with all the necessary force, but we do not give in to blackmail."

Defense Minister Amir Peretz had Monday warned Syria's President Bashar al-Assad that "all the responsibility falls on him." His words were echoed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who said after talks in Moscow that "Syria, which protects [Hamas] and grants asylum to its chiefs, must understand that it cannot escape responsibility for that."

Olmert has called for Syria to expel Palestinian militant leaders.

"The key to resolving the crisis is in Damascus since the directives and orders for terrorist actions originate there," he said earlier this week in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Home to exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, Syria has shrugged off Israeli and US accusations as well as an Israeli jet flyover of a Syrian presidential palace last week.

Assad Monday pledged support for the Palestinians amid "Israel's aggressive stand and unjust accusations" but made no attempt to enter the fray over the captured soldier. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan telephoned Assad to discuss the mounting crisis, and Turkey sent an envoy to meet the Syrian leader.

"What we are trying to do is to contribute to efforts to prevent further escalation in this problem," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said.

Before sending the envoy to Damascus, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with US President George W Bush, Annan and Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

According to Israeli daily Maariv, Egyptian and Palestinian mediators are "furious with the Syrians in general over their behavior and with President Bashar al-Assad in particular," for Damascus' refusal to help.

The crisis was sparked after Palestinian fighters tunneled under the Gaza border and raided an Israeli army post, snatching Shalit, 19, and killing two. Two Palestinians were also killed.

In Gaza, meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas called Tuesday for an extension of negotiations over Shalit and urged militants not to kill him.

"The government ... is still calling for preserving the life of the captured Israeli soldier and for him to receive good treatment," he said.

Olmert turns heat on Syria

[Shammu]

 Security Cabinet to Meet Wednesday
02:18 Jul 05, '06 / 9 Tammuz 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Israel’s security cabinet is expected to meet Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the Gaza Strip. The unprecedented rocket attack on the heart of Ashkelon will likely be high on the agenda.

The ministers are expected to discuss continuing military operations against terrorist targets and are likely to decide on a new serious of military actions in the Gaza Strip.

Security Cabinet to Meet Wednesday

[Shammu]

Crisis could be tough for both sides to compromise

tel aviv (AP)
No one doubts what will happen if Israeli intelligence finds Cpl. Gilad Shalit in the maze of densely populated Gaza.
Special forces will take any action needed to free the captured Israeli soldier, with the same determination they showed 30 years ago yesterday against tremendous odds in a rescue operation that amazed the world. Israeli forces secretly flew to Uganda to free more than 100 hostages being held at Entebbe International Airport after their Air France flight was hijacked by commandos demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel.
Though today’s crisis involves only one captive who is being held much closer to Israel, solving it could prove even more daunting than July 4, 1976, the day of the Entebbe rescue. For one, Israel doesn’t know where Shalit is, and the current brinkmanship is being played out against the backdrop of a complex Israeli military offensive and a looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Still, once again an Israeli is being held captive by Palestinian fighters and they are again demanding a prisoner swap. Conditions on the ground bode poorly for a deal. Israel fears caving in would encourage more kidnappings, and the Hamas rulers fear a loss of street credibility if they give up the 19-year-old corporal without anything in return.
Israel is keeping the military option alive, bombarding Gaza with missiles and artillery shells and targeting resistance strongholds.
However, Egypt is trying to mediate a peaceful solution, and Israeli officials say they will greet Egyptian overtures with an open mind. Despite defiant public statements about not dealing with “terrorists”, Israel has negotiated prisoner swaps in the past. One possible deal could involve the fighters freeing Shalit in return for the promise of an Israeli-Palestinian summit and the release of some Palestinian prisoners in the future, according to Palestinian officials.
Haaretz, a top Israeli newspaper, also reported that Israeli military commanders would support freeing Palestinian prisoners who have not been involved attacks, if Shalit is freed and Hamas and its resistance allies agree to halt all attacks against Israeli civilians and forces.
But the Hamas and Israeli governments have each made statements that appear to preclude compromise. “The problem that the leaders on both sides are facing is the public opinion that they created themselves,ª said Baoz Ganor, a counterterrorism expert in Israel.

Crisis could be tough for both sides to compromise

[Shammu]

Palestinians Attempt Mass Murder

A Palestinian rocket hit a school in the city of Ashkelon today, the deepest a Qassam rocket has ever penetrated into Israel, in a deadly serious attack intended to murder random civilians.

In retaliation, Israel struck the empty Palestinian Interior Ministry for the second time.

    GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian militants hit an Israeli city with a rocket from Gaza for the first time on Tuesday, causing no casualties but drawing a pledge of harsh retaliation from Israel while it was already in the midst of a military offensive.

    Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the rocket fire on the coastal city of Ashkelon a “major escalation,” coming just hours after a deadline set by the militants holding an Israeli soldier passed with Israel rejecting demands to release about 1,500 Palestinian prisoners. The militants said they would not harm 19-year-old Cpl. Gilad Shalit — if he is still alive. But they warned they would provide no further information about him, leaving his condition unclear.

    Early Wednesday, Israeli aircraft struck the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza for the second time in a week, the military said. Witnesses said missiles hit the main structure again and damaged a building next to the ministry which has been used since the first attack. Rescue workers said two people were wounded.

    The rocket flew 7 miles through the air and exploded in the courtyard of a school in Ashkelon, a city of 110,000 on Israel’s coast north of Gaza. The school was empty at the time and no one was hurt. School security cameras showed a large cloud of white dust rising from the point of impact.

Palestinians Attempt Mass Murder