Israel masses armored strength on its Gaza border Monday, threatening large-scale military action to rescue soldier kidnapped by Hamas
Israel masses armored strength on its Gaza border Monday, threatening large-scale military action to rescue soldier kidnapped by Hamas
June 26, 2006, 7:26 PM (GMT+02:00)
Prime minister Ehud Olmert said Monday, June 26, that Israeli forces are standing by for orders to advance into the Gaza Strip. Justice minister Haim Ramon warned that the planned Israeli steps failing Gilead’s recovery include a lockdown of the Gaza Strip by land and sea. This would hinder his transfer to hostile elements across the border into Egyptian Sinai. DEBKAfile adds: The theory that members of the al Qaeda-Palestinian cell in Gaza are among his captors is gaining ground. Sunday night, Israel decided to hold off immediate military action in Gaza for fear of harm to kidnapped Israeli soldier since promoted to Sgt. Gideon Shalit, 19, from Mitzpe Hilo, is safe. The decision was reached at a special security cabinet consultation called by prime minister Ehud Olmert to deal with the IDF response to the Hamas-led pre-dawn raid from Gaza inside Israel, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, a third was kidnapped and 6 were injured. DEBKAfile’s military sources say the cabinet’s options were narrowed by the slow reactions of the generals on the spot – Maj.-Gen Yoav Galant (Ariel Sharon’s former military secretary) and Brig. Aviv Cochavi - plus the chief of staff’s reluctance to act independently without deferring to his political masters. Had the IDF gone roaring after the terrorists and kidnappers - or even launched a blind pursuit without waiting for a decision from the policy-makers - Israel might have gained the initiative and been in a position to force the kidnapped soldier’s release by pinning the Palestinian terrorists to the wall. These responses were seen by the Palestinian terrorist groups which carried out the concerted attack early Sunday as a sign of weakness and lack of resolve. This affair recalls the October 2000 kidnap by Hizballah of three Israeli soldiers, Adi Avitan, Benny Avraham and Omar Sawad, on Israel’s northern border. Then, too, prime minister Ehud Barak held back from expeditious action. Four years later, in the absence of any sign of life from the captured men, Israel was forced to pay dearly for their remains. Both Israeli premiers were loath to send troops back into evacuated territory – South Lebanon then, the Gaza Strip now.
June 26, 2006, 7:26 PM (GMT+02:00)
Prime minister Ehud Olmert said Monday, June 26, that Israeli forces are standing by for orders to advance into the Gaza Strip. Justice minister Haim Ramon warned that the planned Israeli steps failing Gilead’s recovery include a lockdown of the Gaza Strip by land and sea. This would hinder his transfer to hostile elements across the border into Egyptian Sinai. DEBKAfile adds: The theory that members of the al Qaeda-Palestinian cell in Gaza are among his captors is gaining ground. Sunday night, Israel decided to hold off immediate military action in Gaza for fear of harm to kidnapped Israeli soldier since promoted to Sgt. Gideon Shalit, 19, from Mitzpe Hilo, is safe. The decision was reached at a special security cabinet consultation called by prime minister Ehud Olmert to deal with the IDF response to the Hamas-led pre-dawn raid from Gaza inside Israel, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, a third was kidnapped and 6 were injured. DEBKAfile’s military sources say the cabinet’s options were narrowed by the slow reactions of the generals on the spot – Maj.-Gen Yoav Galant (Ariel Sharon’s former military secretary) and Brig. Aviv Cochavi - plus the chief of staff’s reluctance to act independently without deferring to his political masters. Had the IDF gone roaring after the terrorists and kidnappers - or even launched a blind pursuit without waiting for a decision from the policy-makers - Israel might have gained the initiative and been in a position to force the kidnapped soldier’s release by pinning the Palestinian terrorists to the wall. These responses were seen by the Palestinian terrorist groups which carried out the concerted attack early Sunday as a sign of weakness and lack of resolve. This affair recalls the October 2000 kidnap by Hizballah of three Israeli soldiers, Adi Avitan, Benny Avraham and Omar Sawad, on Israel’s northern border. Then, too, prime minister Ehud Barak held back from expeditious action. Four years later, in the absence of any sign of life from the captured men, Israel was forced to pay dearly for their remains. Both Israeli premiers were loath to send troops back into evacuated territory – South Lebanon then, the Gaza Strip now.
posted by shummer60 at Monday, June 26, 2006
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