Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' accuse Israel of trying to avoid second stage of Shalit 'exchange'

Islamic Jihad and Hamas have accused Israel of seeking to escalate hostilities in the Gaza Strip so as to avoid carrying out the second terrorist release that is part of the terrorists for Gilad trade. Meanwhile, our 'peace partner,' the 'Palestinian Authority,' has called on its Gaza brothers not to give Israel an 'excuse' to tighten the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Abu Ahmed, spokesman for the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, called the Israeli air strike a “cowardly attack.”

He said Israel launched the strike to avoid fulfilling the second phase of the “humiliating” prisoner exchange.

“The occupation perpetrated this crime believing that the Arab media is preoccupied with the revolutions in the Arab world and does not care about what happens in the Palestinian territories,” Abu Ahmed said.

However, he ruled out the possibility that Israel would wage an all-out war on the Gaza Strip, “because it does not have the courage and ability to do so and because its soldiers are afraid of being taken captive like Gilad Schalit.”

The spokesman said that his organization would respond to the killing of its men “with full force.”

...

Hamas said that it was holding consultations with Islamic Jihad and other groups about responding to Saturday’s targeted killings in Rafah.

Abu Obaidah, spokesman for Izzadin Kassam, the armed wing of Hamas, accused Israel of seeking to “spoil” Palestinian celebrations over the release of prisoners in the Schalit deal.

“The Zionist enemy is trying to ease the feeling of frustration and defeat brought about by the blessed [prisoner exchange] deal,” Abu Obaidah said.

The Palestinian Authority called for “ending Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip.”

Nabil Abu Rudaineh, spokesman for PA President Mahmoud Abbas, also called on Palestinian groups “not to give Israel an excuse to launch another war and tighten the siege on the Gaza Strip.”

Israel should flatten the Gaza Strip from the air if need be. But in the end, there will likely be no choice but to send ground troops in.

We had the same threats before Operation Cast Lead, and no one was kidnapped (there were a couple of close calls). A few days of softening with air strikes, and we could probably send troops in.

Labels: Hamas, IDF, Islamic Jihad, kidnapping, Operation Cast Lead, Palestinian Authority, terrorists for Gilad trade

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:49 PM