Israeli Tanks Storm Into Gaza Strip

Tension Builds, Further Threatening Shaky 5 Month Truce, Militants Fire On Tanks

(AP)  Israeli tanks forged into the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, drawing rocket and mortar fire from Palestinian militants, militant groups said, intensifying violence that has chipped away at a tenuous cease-fire.

Israel and Hamas have been trading fire for two weeks after nearly five months of relative quiet. The June 19 truce is due to expire next month, and both sides might be trying to dictate more favorable terms in anticipation of the agreement's renewal.

The tanks, backed by a bulldozer and military jeep, rumbled about a quarter-mile deep into the tiny seaside strip, residents and Gaza security officials said. Residents said they leveled lands along the border east of the city of Rafah. It was the first ground action in a week.

The tanks did not respond to the Palestinian fire.

The Israeli military described the activity as "a routine operation to uncover explosive devices near the border fence in the southern Gaza Strip." It said two mortars were fired at troops, causing no injuries or damage.

At least 17 militants have been killed since the truce began unraveling, and by the military's count, militants have fired more than 140 rockets and mortars at Israel.

In an effort to squelch the rocket fire, Israel has kept cargo crossings into Gaza clamped shut for the most part, drastically restricting vital supplies.

Both Israel and leaders of Gaza's ruling Islamic militant Hamas movement have said they hoped the Egyptian-brokered truce could be preserved. But a small, Hamas-allied group said they consider the truce to have broken down, and Israel has threatened to hit hard if the rocket fire persists.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Hamas-run Interior Ministry accused Israel of subverting the truce.

"We call on the Palestinian factions to meet to begin an immediate re-evaluation of the calm," spokesman Ihab al-Ghussein said.

Before the truce was reached, militants barraged Israel with near-daily rocket attacks, provoking sometimes harsh military retaliation that killed hundreds of Palestinians, including many civilians.

In recent weeks, several dozen foreign activists have defied the siege, reaching Gaza by boat to try to draw attention to the misery the blockade has caused Gaza's 1.4 million people.

On Tuesday, a local anti-blockade activist, Amajad Shwa, said Israeli seamen boarded a Palestinian fishing boat and arrested one of Gaza's foreign supporters and five Palestinian fishermen. They were also calling on two other foreigners to leave other fishing boats.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

[straightmate]

So basically some bada$$ hebrews are sitting in a big iron can with wheels defending it. Oh, don''t let them shoot at anybody, they might have an unfair advantage. Yes, when its 100-1 we must play FAIR. Not if I''m asked. God bless and always protect Israel.

[babooph]

Reminds me of Soviet tanks in Hungary-propaganda is very different though.

[wl7bzh]

God bless and always protect Israel.

Posted by straightmate at 05:26 AM : Nov 18, 2008

Amen

[smurfcrusher]

"So basically some bada$$ hebrews are sitting in a big iron can with wheels defending it. Oh, don''''t let them shoot at anybody, they might have an unfair advantage. Yes, when its 100-1 we must play FAIR. Not if I''''m asked. God bless and always protect Israel."

Posted by straightmate


How long have you been an idiot?

Maybe you''d like some more gov''t sponsored land grabs "just because"

[omnibus66]

Joe Lieberman was driving the lead tank.

[georgew1956]

line up the tanks and circle the hamas dumby''s and be done with the stupidity. get someone in there that can control the gang ( hamas) or let turn israel loose.

[lancearmstng]

Smurfcrusher-Maybe you''''d like some more gov''''t sponsored land grabs "just because"

How about the thought that this land was won during war. A war in which Israel was completely surrounded by invading arabs and they were able to succeed againt the odds. How soon are you ready to give back Texas to Mexico? I guess America has that "just because"

And do you think these savages will be satisfied if they got land? They dont'' want land, they want attention. If you look at the "occupied" lands that the Palestinians want so badly you can see that in the short span that Israel has occupied them they are flourishing with agriculture and success while literally just over the border it is bare and desolate.

Take the land away from those who benefit the masses and give it to those who need to kill because they know of nothing else.

[longtree-2009]

enough of this back and forth, peace, no peace. have both sides go to full and total war with no holds barred and be done with it once and for all. just get it done and winner take all.

[lancearmstng]

agreed with longtree. But I''ll say this once and leave it, If this war results in sub-par hummus being imported into the U.S. I will not be a happy camper, at all.

I''m serious guys (and gals) don''t try me.

[jediservant]

Israel needs to retake the land it gave away during the "land for peace". This would bring favor to Israel in the sight of the Lord.

God Bless Israel!

[lancearmstng]

Jesuseyes, you have a beautiful name.

And if only it were that simple. We can try though. Do you want to meet me at the bus depot and we''ll go be peace moderators?? I''ll bring the sandwiches

[presjfk]

I am not sure what keeps Israel from wiping the Palestinians off the map. Their crazy neighbor keeps firing rockets, has sent suicide bombers into Israel and at some point Israel will decide it has had enough and will crush their enemy. Then there will be peace for everyone.

[lancearmstng]

presjfk,

it''s called an undying sense of humanity and respect for life. There is a tremendous difference between a people that goes door to door alerting residents (and probably terrorists) that there will be military action and if you remain in your home you will be safe versus a group of people that breed children to become terrorists.

It''s not so much a fight over land, it''s a fight over a mentality.

[bigal321321]

presjfk.....here''s your reason. It was called "The Holocaust" It is when Hitler tried to eradicate all the Jews. For the Israeli people to win this war they are faced with the same dillema. Eradication of all Palestinians. It goes against their grain for the most part to even think it, but then their is reality. They''ve been playing defense for 40 years with these people. I wonder how the Palestinians would feel if they were REALLY treated like Jews? I am usually against any form of violence but then that''s all these people tend to understand. They breed hatred and bigotry. So many other countries in the area are ready to embrace Israel as a peaceful counterpart to the area except.....

[biblethumpar]

Thise nice Ishrealies,
they are such a chosen people even Genocide they do is permitted.
amen.

[jydavis1]

is Isreal a terrorist nation ?

[jydavis1]

did German-Jewish bankers rob hard working, middle class Germans of all their wealth in the 1920''s thereby setting the stage for the holocaust ?

why are there no movies about this ?

[roadracer9x]

Biblethumpar----How would you feel if you were subject to rockets landing in your yard daily? These people, and I use that term loosely, put machine guns in the hands of 6 year olds and teach them to kill Infidels (which means any non-Muslim). That is what they learn in school and that is what they learn at home. Gaza is just an Islamo-fascist training ground with Iranian''s teaching them to kill. They do not want peace and never have.

[roadracer9x]

jydavis1-- your comment just amplifies your ignorance of history. It is always the racist that blames the victims.

[jydavis1]

how would you like to have your land illegally taken from you, tens of thousands of your family members killed and the remaining herded into small slivers of land to be penned like farm animals - decade after decade.. if you had a rocket, would you fire it ?

[biblethumpar]

roadracer9x , it is a blessed event to have
your neighbors and your whole neighborhoods uplifted overnight, and displaced only to have those previously
populated areas overrun wiht Immigrants from other parts of the world,..

it is such a blessed thing is it not?
to have your homes taken away and given to onother?
we are such a loving community of peaceful
joyful followers..

amen.

[lancearmstng]

Biblesavage- How do you equate "occupying land that was considered a spoil of war" to genocide?

It seems that your rationale is perfectly in line with the thought that all those who don''t believe in your lord should be killed? That''s what these savages are after. I''ll tell you what would happen if Israel gave back land that was won by fighting off the surrounding savages. Nothing! These emotion-deficient robots will continue to cause terror because they are not after the land, they want the Jews destroyed. Had Israel not developed its land there would be a bunch of starving arabs sitting on sand dunes.

And by the way, "Palestine" is comprised of land considered as "spoils of war" from the Arabian Empire. If you demand the Israelis leave then you must demand the Palestinians leave as well.

[biblethumpar]

lancearmstng , such anger towards your brethren.
The Chosen ones can do as they wish, its in the book,
even Genocide cannot prevail against them in a court of law, for no law applies.

amen.

[lancearmstng]

jdavis- if you feel this strongly you should be pushing even stronger for all of continental America to be returned to the Native Americans. That land was taken without a war.

Hi, We''re going to ambush you with an incredibly larger army and weaponry on your holiest of days when you are least prepared. Oh, and if we lose we''re going to terrorize you and your family by arming our young children and brainwashing them that this is the word of allah.

Very rational, you win. I say Israel pulls out taking their technology and civility and let''s see what happens. Palestine won''t receive any support from the rest of the Arab world because the only thing they have in common is that they hate the Jews.

[lancearmstng]

Bible- No one who devotes their life to the extinction of any group, let alone one that has contributed an inproportinate amount of good to this world, is my "brethren"

[biblethumpar]

lancearmstng , the Moon is unpopulated, start there...

[dates_times]

Revolutionary war dictates:
a) Look for trouble
b) When they retaliate, put women and children in the line of fire
c) Call help to the world for them killing innocent

Hamas is the aggressor and should be stopped by Palistinians!

Arab countries, get women and children out there, ask anybody to level the place, return the innocent and live in peace.

[lancearmstng]

Bible, i''ll tell you something, if technology evolves to the stage where life on the moon is possible, it won''t be the savages of Palestine and or the nation of holy followers that would have contributed to it.

And a typical response from a bigot. Rather than co-existing, you automatically reach for the plan that takes those who oppose your hate and get rid of them. Such an open mind you have.

[biblethumpar]

lancearmstng, Savages is as Savages does.

TT

[lancearmstng]

Explanation needed Bible... As far as I''m concerned the Jewish people have been at the forefront of technology and progress throughout history. They even remained so whether they were being drawn into slavery by the Egyptians, brutally kicked out of Israel by the Romans, persecuted by the Spanish during the Inquisition, tortured by the Russians and let''s not forget Europe in the 1930''s- 40''s just to mention a few. In which book of history does it show the Jewish people being oppressive?

It''s easy to make blind statements like a five year old such as "savage is as savage does". Fact of the matter is if you and your people were under constant threat by those who don''t abide by the rules of your invisible god you have every right under the sun, and moon to defend yourself.

Any other brainbusters or am I free to go look at cartoons that even if they depict my people in a troubling light won''t make me throw stones through store fronts and call for the heads of infidels?

[getoffmine1]

Biblesavage- How do you equate "occupying land that was considered a spoil of war" to genocide?

Posted by lancearmstng at 10:52 AM : Nov 18, 2008

So according to your argument, if say Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt decide to invade Israel together from all angles, and we in the U.S. decide to let Israel live or die on her own, and she loses, then the Egyptians, Syrians and Lebonese are entitled to any land they can take?

[biblethumpar]

yes i know, Water was invented by you guys..

thanks.

[dates_times]

BTW:
Only 0.25% of the World population is Jews

and they could earn / be awarded

ONLY 22% of ALL Nobel prizes

Maybe there is something wrong with the calculations

[lancearmstng]

Looky here, someone grasps the concept of war. Let''s take a gander at our history books to 1967. Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq vs. Israel (alone, no U.S.) Invaded from all sides and were defeated. 7 years later, those wonderful tolerant parties mentioned before attacked again on Yom Kippur... and LOST.

Now if you wage war on someone and you lose you don''t get to turn back the clock and pretend it didn''t happen. If that were the case the Alamo would be a bodega right now. There have been exceptions to the norm in which land is redistributed to the offending parties but if you even begin to tell me that attacking a group is justified and that if you lose you expect no consequences, then you sir (or madame) are just as much a silly goose egg as anyone I have ever known.

AND if you want to play it by those rules, Israel belongs to the Jewish people from way-back-when.

[lancearmstng]

Oh biblepumper, don''t act like a child. We''re all brethren right?

[biblethumpar]

youre right, the old parchments
tell the story of how an old goat roper named Abraham started this whole mess by taking a much younger and prettier wife...

[lancearmstng]

Biblethumpar, your argument is unravelling rather quickly. Why so petty?

And no matter which scripture you subscribe to they all begin with the Jews in Israel.

It''s easy to determine that the Arabs aren''t the true land-owners, because if you go back just a few hundred years there is no mention of gun shells and killing infidels who draw silly cartoons.

Anything else? I have work to do, can''t spend all day spewing hatred all over the world because I don''t celebrate the same holidays as everyone.

[biblethumpar]

lancearmstng , Youre right most all passages begin with those words,
followed by some calamity brought upon you for being such a hateful people.

[cbsblogger]

We need one country and acceptance of all peoples in the land of Palestine or Israel. The USA does it and so do all the other so called advanced democratic nations of the world.

One race in one country is inherently racist.

[lancearmstng]

Biblehater (teehee), please share with the class why the Jews are such a hateful people. I am actually curious what you have to say.

[biblethumpar]

Well First of all you guys killed Jesus, a man of peace.

[dates_times]

Biblethumpar read the bible

it was Romans who did the murdering

Who also gave you Christmas (to honour the birth of sun idols) AND Easter (Ishtar) which was a fertility feast where children were offered. All Pagan and most of it kept in modern churches

[lancearmstng]

If i''m not mistaken, and I, unlike you enjoy backup before making irrational comments, it was Pontius Pilate, the Roman leader who governed between c.e. 26-c.e.36 who ordered and carried out the execution of Senor Jesus. The usual and prominent method of executiion for the Jews during this time was stoning (something that you might be familiar with, am I right cheech?) rather than crucifixion.

See, isn''t it fun to do some research and know what you''re talking about instead of attempting to take a cheap shot. What else, my soon-to-be-humbled foe have the Jews done to warrant such distaste from the international community? And don''t you dare say that Oz was cancelled because of the Jews...

[lancearmstng]

dates_times, I like you very much. People that don''t make things up and are rational are cool in my book.

[evian_ycnan]

Biblethumpar read the bible

it was Romans who did the murdering

Who also gave you Christmas (to honour the birth of sun idols) AND Easter (Ishtar) which was a fertility feast where children were offered. All Pagan and most of it kept in modern churches...

Posted by dates_times at 12:18 PM : Nov 18, 2008

It was a "murder for hire". The Romans merely the hit men.

[biblethumpar]

Pontius Pilate returned him back to the Pharisees, did not u watch the Passion of the Christ?
oh you people of little faith.
Tsk, Tsk.

[lancearmstng]

Biblethumpar, that''s your trump card?????? A reference to Passion of the Christ which has about as much relevance to the world as Tom and Jerry''s Big Adventure?

If by faith you mean waging a holy war throughout Europe, a la the crusades, then I guess you got the Jews pinned (no pun intended). Jews have no faith in terms of murdering those who disagree with their beliefs. Maybe if the situation in the Middle East escalates even farther we can ask you good folk to teach us in the ways of murdering for the sake of religion.

[evian_ycnan]

They pharoses(sp?) took advantage of a situation... kinda like knocking off Saddam under the guise of getting Bin Laden...

Remember Pilate did offer a choice and if they had only known what would result from the followers of "Peace & Love", Barabbas would have been fly bait.

[dates_times]

Biblethumpar, sorry once again, but check your facts.

The movie "Passion of the Christ" is fiction, to little facts to be seen in another light.

[evian_ycnan]

In point of fact, the French Resistence was never a threat to the Germans, only to the Vichy-French. Christ was never a threat to the Romans...