10 Killed As Israel Pounds Hamas Targets

Israel Attacks Hamas Targets From The Air As Palestinian Infighting Slows Some In Gaza Strip

(CBS/AP)  Israel pounded more Hamas targets with airstrikes, killing 10 people and wounding dozens as it stepped deeper into fighting between the Islamic militants and the rival Fatah fighters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The latest attack came early Friday morning as Israeli aircraft fired missiles east of Gaza City, killing four Palestinians, at least three of them Hamas militants, and wounding six people, Hamas and Palestinian doctors said. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Two other strikes followed but there was no word of any casualties, the doctors said.

Israel says the strikes are in retaliation for more than 50 rockets that Hamas has launched against Israel over the past three days in an apparent attempt to divert attention from Palestinian infighting, CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey.

"Hamas killed a lot of fellow Palestinians, some in brutal executions and ambushes, so a good way to divert attention from that was to draw Israel into the fighting," says CBS News correspondent Robert Berger. "If Hamas is targeted by Israel, it wins immediate sympathy from the public and also unites the Palestinians. Instead of fighting each other, they'll turn their attention to fighting a common enemy — Israel."

But the Palestinians have so far managed to kill more of their own than the Israelis have. Fatah gunmen even opened fire Thursday on a funeral for Hamas fighters killed in earlier street battles, adds Pizzey.

“Israel will take every defensive measure to stop these rocket attacks. We will defend our citizens against the rockets, against the weapons, against the Iranian-backed Hamas who are attacking Israel,” government spokeswoman Miri Eisen said.

The strikes, a series of Israeli attacks Thursday, and the reported movement of a handful of tanks a few hundred yards into the northern Gaza Strip, followed days of Hamas rocket barrages into Israel.

Street fighting between the Palestinian factions that has gripped Gaza since the weekend calmed under a truce agreement, but clashes still killed at least four people — a day after 22 died in the worst battles during a year of factional bloodshed.

There was no sign of any Israeli military buildup that would indicate plans for a serious intervention into chaotic Gaza, though a few tanks and soldiers moved just across the Gaza border. Israel's government said its attacks were intended solely to discourage rocket attacks on southern Israel.

Analysts said Israeli policy makers were likely trying to walk a narrow line to avoid uniting Palestinian factions into a common front against Israel.

Hamas mounted accusations on its Web sites, radio and TV that Abbas-linked forces were working with Israel — a charge dismissed as “absurd” by a Fatah spokesman.

Although Israel said it wasn't taking sides, the airstrikes did make it harder for Hamas gunmen to move around and that could help Fatah's fighters, who appeared to have been outfought in the latest round of battles. Hamas fighters have clearly been more motivated in the current fighting and earlier battles in December.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Israel had shown “great restraint” in exercising its right to self defense and warned Hamas it would never achieve a Palestinian state unless it chose peace and worked with Fatah.

“They're not going to see it by launching Qassam rockets into Israel. They're not going to see it by attacking the legitimate security forces of the Palestinian Authority. They're not going to see it by sending young people armed with suicide vests to blow up other Israeli youngsters,” McCormack said.

A day after bombing two Hamas targets, Israeli aircraft struck a Hamas command center, a trailer housing bodyguards and two vehicles Thursday.

Busloads of Sderot residents sought shelter away from the frontier. Israeli media said more than 2,000 of the town's 24,000 people had left.

Berger (audio) reports Sderot's terrorized residents are accusing the government of doing nothing.

Thursday's airstrikes came on the fifth day of factional fighting that appeared to be tearing apart a Hamas-Fatah unity government formed two months ago in hopes of ending such clashes and also killing any hope of renewed peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians.

In all, 46 Palestinians had been killed by the infighting since Sunday. But street clashes ebbed Thursday and Gazans who had been trapped in their homes the previous day hurried out to stock up on bread, bottled water and other supplies.

“I have run out of cigarettes and I'm almost out of mineral water. I don't have many diapers left,” said grocer Ghassan Abu al-Qas.

No one stayed outside long, though, fearing a resumption of fighting. Few cars and trucks ventured out.

Israel's airstrikes complicated an already chaotic situation in Gaza, making the embattled Abbas even more vulnerable to Hamas accusations that he is in Israel's pocket. With his aides citing security concerns, Abbas canceled a Thursday trip to Gaza for talks with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

[space_poet]

Great, here we go again. This sux, war sux, bpmbs only beget more bombs, and vengence, until someone with vision can come along and put some sence in situation.

[reel-crazy]

Unraveling? These savage people have no intentions of long-termed peace ever becoming a reality... it is not their way.

[old300d]

We really need to stop sending all the guns and money to the palestinians.

[cathaleen]

First it the hatred of the Jews, now they're killing each other. Will it ever stop? I think these people have a serious problem with violence.
It's like they have to have somone to kill. They got want they wanted - a Palestinian state.
Maybe they can't govern themselves. What a pity because this is ruining another generation.
They should take a page from northern Ireland. They finally settled their problems after decades of violence.

[bluestardad]

this is not in americas interest quit running it!

[bluestardad]

THIS IS NOT IN AMERICAS INTEREST! STAY OUT! BUSH IS FUNDING AL QAEDA IN NORTHERN LEBANON!

I am tired of marginalizing all the other millions of good honorable people in the Middle East because Israel had it rough in Europe before I was born!

So why must America in isolation support Israel blindly above all the rest of the people in the Middle East, just because they do not play well in the sand box together?

50 years of American sacrifice is enough! America must become an honest broker in the Middle East or pull out all together! America can honor its commitments with our Allies but there must be a true unbiased commitment on Americas part in the Region.

There will never be peace as long as America intervenes on behalf of Israel at the expense of the Millions of other good people in the Middle East! All the parties involved will never come to agreement if we are constantly pulling their cookies out of the fire every time they get into trouble either!

It is not anti Semitic to believe that there are other good people in the Middle East and they should have a voice!

You can see by the AIPAC advertisement below this PAC is selling influence to American Elected officials. If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipa

[patriotic9]

First it the hatred of the Jews, now they're killing each other. Will it ever stop? I think these people have a serious problem with violence
Posted by cathaleen at 08:41 AM : May 17, 2007

It doesn't really matter who is a Jew,Christian or a Moslem.Bringing people from different European countries into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those Palestinians by force who had nothing to do with the actions of Hitler and Our unprecedented support to the European invaders in Palestine on the cost of American Money,Lives and USA herself is non-sense.
Why should we take Oil in cheaper prices from Arabs and in return support their those enemies who were brought into Palestine after WWII to occupy the land of those Palestinains by force who had nothing to do with the actions of Hitler,in the killing of those who give us Oil in cheaper prices?
Solution to all of our problems is to get rid of PSYCHOSIS named CHRISTIANITY according to which Americans are GOD-NEGLECTED and NON-AMERICAN EUROPEAN INVADERS IN PALESTINE are GOD-CHOSEN,USA is an UNHOLY LAND and the ***-HOLE called BATHLEHAM is a HOLY LAND.Our constitution which separates CHRUCH from STATE is UNHOLY and that ANTI-AMERICAN, RACIST and UNJUST BIBLE which racially discriminates against AMERICANS by not promising them a single penny while promising NON-AMERICAN GOD-CHOSEN ENEMIES OF THE GOD'S ONLY SON a land in the Middle East, is HOLY.

[waterandsand]

Cant we just drop an H-bomb already?

[juwboy]

patriotic9:

Since you believe that a putrid, stinking, festering three-days-old stiff can get up and walk, why should anyone take you seriously?

[re_evolve]

Patriotic 9;

Another homeschooled fanatic heard from.

[afmca]

For ONCE, Israel be smart and mature and stay out of this conflict. Let the two factions maul themselves. Their only hope is if Israel stupidly gets involved and unites the two groups against a common enemy. This is a GREAT chance to finally prove to the Palestanian people that both Hamas and Fatah will never lead them to peace and both need to be rejected and replaced.

[rharrin1]

patriotic9

You need some real serious help. If you were over there I am sure you would be killing all non muslims.

[sevenveils]

Apparently patriotic9 justice is being served in Palestine. The poison from Iran is killing innocent Muslims in their own country. For once Palestine has an enemy greater than the US or Israel, and that enemy is IRAN!

Perhaps in your perverse world of hatred this fact is acceptable?

By the way patriotic9, USA may be the land of milk and honey, but YOU must put them on the table. Why do you think you deserve a handout?

[rharrin1]

We have better things to spend money on...like Americans and our school system.
Posted by jh6379 at 09:19 AM : May 17, 2007

Yeah save the money and send it to Iraq so haliburton can steal it good thinking.

[starleo146]

Did Bush say we have to stay in Iraq because if we don"t he is afraid of spillover problems into areas around Iraq well what do you call this everytime he opens his mouth the unrest starts Here we go folks they are trying to get Isreal involved then America will have to help Isreal and on and on and on.

[sevenveils]

starleo146 - what rock did you crawl out from under? Get with it man, catch up on history, read the news, all of it.

[zoltaric]

Death to Islam!

[thewatcher6]

Have we so soon forgotton Bible Prophecy, Hiler was aware ao it and yried to change it. What must be , and what mmust come to pass will surely happen. I Thing we must become with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Man Cannot save us now, Read Revelation
This is the end game and all of the players are moving into position.

[infidel_us]

Jews - 14, islamic terrorists - 0!

[king77shaw]

al-Zawahri is right - we have lost both Iraq and the war on "terror?" - the only reason we have lost is that the wars we choose to wage and support in the Middle East are UNJUST. For 70 years we have robbed Arab natural resources (land, oil) for our profit (and ironically prophet) with little respect for fairness, equity or their way of life. Ask yourself, if the tables were turned, would you be a terrorist or a freedom fighter? Would you roll over and let the rape continue or would you fight back to protect your land? At what point do you say %u201Cenough%u201D. Put yourself in their position.

[king77shaw]

we give Israel 7 million dollars a day to fund this aggression - let's spend US tax dollars on America !

[infidel_us]

let's spend US tax dollars on America !
Posted by king77shaw at 10:56 AM : May 17, 2007

I'd rather spend it on ridding America of horsesqueeze LIKE YOU! If you really believe what you wrote, you need to end you life before you can do damage to others. You are beyond help.

[king77shaw]

think again - the two biggest architects of the Iraq war were Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle, both hardcore conservative, Israeli-Americans (dual citizenship) who were members of PNAC and pushing for the "new Pearl Harbor" since the first Iraq war - add to that the millions that AIPAC (American-Israeli political action committee) uses to hypnotize Congress into their imperial view of the Middle East - coincidences ?

why should my tax money fund this agression ? - the Palestinians have a right to the land that was illegitimately taken from them starting in 1948 ... why do we never hear their side if the story in the American media ?

instead of attacking me, try using your brain a little and answer some simple questions.

[dlpracer]

Ask yourself, if the tables were turned, would you be a terrorist or a freedom fighter? Would you roll over and let the rape continue or would you fight back to protect your land? At what point do you say %u201Cenough%u201D. Put yourself in their position.

Posted by king77shaw at 10:53 AM : May 17, 2007

-------------

If the tables were turned and I was protecting my own turf, the first thing my neighbor defense team would do is purge the area of traitors like you.

Any questions?

[gunownerdan]

Religious nuts will destroy the world - IF WE LET THEM!

[king77shaw]

I'm just asking some basic questions - why the hostility ?

am I a traitor for standing up for America ?

the questions are:

1) why should my tax money fund this agression ?

2) do the Palestinians have a right to the land that was illegitimately taken from them starting in 1948 ?

3) why do we never hear their side if the story in the American media ?

[ezillyamused]

thewatcher6:
I, for one, can not wait! I truly hope I am here when Jesus returns. What a glorious day that will be!

[king77shaw]

if we don't address these basic questions then there will be little hope for peace anywhere in the middle east.

I get the feeling that many conservatives thrive on the idea of perpetual war because it feeds their fear-based view of the human condition, that man is inherently evil ...

we can do better than that

[dlpracer]

the questions are:

1) why should my tax money fund this aggression ?

That is YOUR opinion, and you are entitled to it. But the facts speak differently.

2) do the Palestinians have a right to the land that was illegitimately taken from them starting in 1948 ?

There have been dozens of settlements put on the table for the Palestinians....and your buddy Yasser Arafat nixed all of them.

3) why do we never hear their side if the story in the American media ?

Then you are NOT getting your news from the proper sources.

Any questions?

[notblue]

Hamas is a terrorist organization that purposely targets innocent civilians and pledges the destruction of the jews and the jewish state. Israel took land that it's people perceived as it's right. The land issue for the Palestinians is secondary to there outright hatred of the Jews which goes back almost 2000 years. The Israely democracy, one the few in the middle east, is an example of a successful society that would live in peace if allowed. The true fact of the matter is if the Arab terrorists would stopp blowing themselves and innocent civilians up peace would be achievable throughout the middle east. But these barbaric butchers have no value or respect for life, ther hatred and jealousy of the modern world is a direct result of there own governments inadequacy to care of it's own people compounded by the corruption and greed of the chosen few who rule. It's time to stop blaming Israel and America for the terroristic acts of the Muslim radicals who's own agenda is world domination and a regression to there ideology of 6th century barbarism.

[dlpracer]

I get the feeling that many conservatives thrive on the idea of perpetual war because it feeds their fear-based view of the human condition, that man is inherently evil ...

Posted by king77shaw at 11:31 AM : May 17, 2007
----------------

...again YOUR opinion.

Where you get the idea that conservatives thrive on that idea is, well...ridiculous.

However, realist of the world believe without question that there are EVIL PEOPLE in the world.

Remember September 11, 2001?

[king77shaw]

thanks - ok, I agree: Arafat blew the best chance in recent years for a comprehensive peace ...

however, I still feel if we played a more even handed role in the Palestinian crisis, there would be a lot more progress ... our media is highly skewed to the Israeli viewpoint.

the fact remains that Israel still holds Palestinian land.

[jegibbons]

To: king77shaw
"Put yourself in their position."
Why would I do that?
Because your bleeding heart cannot grasp or doesn't choose to understand who
OUR REAL FRIENDS ARE?

Mohammad was a self-deceived, immoral, meglomaniac, in much the same vein, as David Koresh the now, infamnous, self immolating religious, fanatic of infamous, Waco Texas.
Americans have no grievnce with rational and tolerant Muslems. It is the religious extremists who are purpetrating this war on the US and Israel.

Israel is our strongest Ally in the region.
An ally is a friend. Why would we change horses in the middle of the fight? That would be sure sign of despicable cowardace, and a serious breach of trust? Something nations do not do during a war if that country hopes to maintain their alliances.
Oh! king77shaw
YOU WANT TO REWRITE HISTORY???

THAT IS THE LOGIC of the LOONEY LEFT; not the rationale of a logical mind.

[winnerindia]

Well, may be Israel has forgotton the 'GOOD LIFE TIME LESSONS' it learnt from Lebanease resistance.

[soldat44]

Religious nuts will destroy the world - IF WE LET THEM!
Posted by GunOwnerDan at 11:17 AM : May 17, 2007

Ummmm...yea...Listen, we're going to need to move your desk down to the basement. We need this space for storage. Oh, and while your down there could you take care of the roach problem. That would be grrreeeaattt. OK? Thanks.

[king77shaw]

well - I think we can generally view all liberal and conservative thought as stemming from the following:

LIBERAL THOUGHT: human nature is inherently good and it's goverment's role to nurture that "goodness" .. so liberals support things like health care, education, social security, treatment over imprisonment, negotiations over military aggression etc ... of course, nothing is 100% so some people take advantage of this trust - still, as imperfect as it is, it is still hope-based

CONSERVATIVE THOUGHT: unchecked human nature is inherently bad and it's goverment's role to protect us from that "evil" .. so conservatives support things like a strong military, limiting personal freedoms (except for guns), domestic spying, imprisonment over treatment, a more omni-present police state etc ... and of course, nothing is 100% so some innocent people are unjustly punished - regardless it is a fear-based world view, which is why it plays so well with the religious right - for the many positives religion brings to our culture it is still ultimately fear-based ... many of the apocalyptic posts here will attest to that ...

thoughts ?

[mom0306]

notblue, your comments are right on!

[king77shaw]

I don't think I'm looney - I just think our global policies fuel the flames of fanaticism instead of extinguish them ... if we hadn't spent the last 70 years exploiting Arabs for their land and natural resources, they wouldn't hate us - it's really that simple.

[thewatcher6]

Man cannot bring Peace to the Middle East, Only God can do that, but we have kill him off, Took him out of the Schools and look at the mess we created. Read the Book of Revelation.

[thewatcher6]

Man cannot bring Peace to the Middle East, Only God can do that, but we have kill him off, Took him out of the Schools and look at the mess we created. Read the Book of Revelation.

[soldat44]

notblue, your comments are right on!
Posted by mom0306 at 12:09 PM : May 17, 2007

+1

[neoconrcrazy]

who's own agenda is world domination and a regression to there ideology of 6th century barbarism.
Posted by notblue

poppy-***, words and carbon dioxide.....

since 1967 and israel's refusal to return to her borders as required and ordered by international law (formulated in part by US at Nuremburg), UN resolution 242

her decision to occupy and colonize the stolen lands has led to the birth of;

FATAH
HAMAS
HEZBOLLAH
and a long list of smaller "liberation groups"

israel's refusal to return to her internationally recognized borders, except in the case of her peace deal with Egypt, is the reason for the last 40 years of ME terror which has nowadays grown to include groups even outside of the concerned countries.

israel's insistence and refusal to return to her borders, coupled with America's "blind eye" policy to her militarized policy of apartheid in the occupied Palestinian lands IS THE ROOT OF MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORISM and to certain extent, at least partly behind the motivations of the executors of 911.

ISRAEL MUST IMMEDIATELY:

STOP COLONIZING AND SETTLEMENT BUILDING ON STOLEN LANDS;

STOP DESTRUCTION OF PALESTINIAN TOWNS, VILLAGES, FIELDS, ORCHARDS, HOUSES;

STOP BOMBARMENT OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS

STOP APARTHEID "CONTAINMENT" OF PALESTINIANS

MUST REMOVE OVER 1 MILLION CLUSTER BOMBS LEFT PURPOSFULLY IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

[king77shaw]

well I agree notblue - as long as we don't want to bring up that little thing called the Crusades ..

[rafterman1]

The problem with you righties is, you have no concept of cause-effect or the idea of consequences. You act like the Muslims woke up one day and decided to hate on America for no reason.

Well, the truth is, we've been f*cking in Middle East affairs for 50 years now and the Muslims are pi$$ed off about it. The Muslims didn't come into the western hemisphere, setting up bases or interfering in our elections. But we did go over there and interfere in their politics (like overthrowing Iran's elected government for the hated Shaw). Now, they are pi$$ed off about it.

But you righties run around, pounding on Muslims, thinking we can do anything we want without consequence, then blame the Muslims like it's their fault that we f*cked with them.

While killing innocents is never acceptable (e.g., 9-11), until we Americans realize that there are consequences to our actions and that we are not completely without blame, there will never be peace.

[king77shaw]

if 9/11 is continually invoked as the reason for this global madness, then Americans should demand answers to the following questions: demand a new 9/11 investigation .. the 9/11 Omission Report is a farce and a weak attempt at the truth. www.911revisited.com %u2026 THE FACTS DO NOT SUPPORT THE MYTH ! %u2013 then ask yourself, who has really benefited from 9/11 ?

1) why did WTC7 fall ? a classic controlled demolition - plus WTC lease holder Larry Silverstein admitted to having the building "pulled" (slang for demolished) - only problem is that it takes weeks at best to prepare a building for demolition .. why did the 9/11 commission fail to even mention the collapse of WTC7 - there's a reason why they don't show it on TV -

2) how could the twin towers fall at free fall speeds if we are to believe the "pancake" theory ? .. the buildings fell in 9 seconds ! if floors were collapsing into the ones below them there would be slight delay before the lower floor gives ... if it were a half a second at each floor that would still be nearly 50 seconds ...

3) why was the steel whisked off to Asia (after %u201Cfailing%u201D in convenient 30 foot lengths) to be melted down - BEFORE IT COULD BE ANALYSED ! - why was there no attempt at even a partial reconstruction/analysis of the structure to determine structural failure ? - seems absurd ? in a plane crash, the wreckage is painstakingly reconstructed to determine the cause of the crash - why not in this case ?

[neoconrcrazy]

NOTBLUE

you totally unqualified to comment of the Middle East as your comments explain themselves.

the ONLY reason for violence - only, I repeat is LAND.

Palestinian land was set aside by the British under the Balfour Declaration which stated :

"being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine"

the zionists 1st action after getting statehood in 1947 was to remove by force and death "the existing non-jewish communities".

the people of Palestine only want their land back, their self-respect, their own country.
this has been denied to them for a long time and they will never give up.

israel must live in shame and international exclusion until she heeds the words of justice.

[one_american]

Rafterman1:

You are about as wrong as any lunatic moonbat liberal can be.

You completely ignore the realities on the ground; ISRAEL IS BEING ATTACKED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS EVERY DAY.

Israel did not provoke any attack - this is purely a terrorist-incited game of propaganda that you apparently sop up like a gullible glutton.

Find a brain and use it.

[dogsoul]

"...WWII to occupy the land of those Palestinians by force who had nothing to do with the actions of Hitler and Our unprecedented support to the European invaders in Palestine on the cost of American Money,Lives and USA herself is non-sense."

And who kicked the Jews out of Israel to begin with? Is that not their historical homeland? You want to talk history, they were a people with no home whatsoever because they were kicked out. Depending upon how far back you want to go, many people can claim that land as their birthright - none and ALL would have merit to their case. Well just like ancient Israel was overrun w/ Arabs & Romans.... ultimately leaving the Palestinians to "occupy" the land, so was the Ottoman Empire overrun, and one small piece allotted for the Jewish people. And let's be honest here... the entire area was carved up into the various countries that exist today - but you don't see Jordan, Lebanon, Syria or other nations going nuts over whose land is whose... ahhhh, but the Jews are different - they're not Muslim - they're not Arab(somewhat debatable)... and when Israel was recognized along with the other newly created borders - Arab Muslims went nuts & tried to eradicate them, twice - and are still trying today. And why? Basically, it stemmed from racial & religious hatred... If the Jews called themselves Jews, but were instead wholly Arab & Muslim... they'd just be another country along with the rest...

[rafterman1]

===You completely ignore the realities on the ground; ISRAEL IS BEING ATTACKED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS EVERY DAY.===

I'm not talking about Israel, dumba$$. I'm talking about the Middle East conflict as a whole and the US's involvement with it.

[secundus2]

Luckily, many of us are PRAGMATISTS. We don't much care whether solutions to domestic or international problems emerge from the left or the right. In fact, we think that the endless LIB. and CON. harrangues are rather useless.

The Saudis ordered the Palestinians to form a unity government; perhaps they can force the Palestinian gunmen to live with that unity government and to quit firing rockets at Israel.

Who cares whether that's a liberal or conservative viewpoint?