Israel Arrests 10 Hamas Leaders

Military Says Those Arrested Were Trying To Restore Hamas Administration

(AP)  Israel rounded up 10 Hamas leaders in the West Bank early Thursday, two days after indirect talks between Israel and the Islamic militant group on a prisoner swap broke down.

Among those detained were four Hamas lawmakers, a university professor and a former Hamas deputy prime minister.

The Israeli military said in a statement that those arrested were involved in "restoring the Hamas administrative branch." Hamas in the West Bank has been the target of a crackdown by Israel and the security forces of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the past two years, ever since the militants seized Gaza by force.

The detentions appear to be an attempt to pressure the group after the failure of recent efforts to win the release of an Israeli soldier, Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who is being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Ahmed Bahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, denounced the arrests as "immoral blackmail by the Zionist occupation."

Israel has detained dozens of Hamas politicians in the West Bank on various occasions following the capture of Schalit, 22, in a cross-border raid in June 2006.

The detainees in the latest raid include Nasser Shaer, a former Palestinian deputy prime minister, and four Hamas lawmakers. Some have already been detained in the past and released.

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had hoped to secure the release of Schalit before a new Israeli government is formed, possibly within days. To that end, he dispatched two senior envoys to Cairo over the weekend to try to clinch an Egyptian-brokered deal with Hamas, which rules Gaza and has no direct ties with Israel.

But the envoys returned to Israel without a deal in hand, and on Tuesday Olmert declared that Israel would not free all of the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners the Islamic militants demanded in exchange.

Some were involved in attacks that killed dozens of Israelis, and Olmert insisted that there were "red lines" that Israel "will not cross."

Incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to partner with hawkish parties in Israel's new government, has not commented on the failed release efforts or how he plans to deal with Schalit's case.

The failure of the prisoner swap talks threatens to set off a long chain reaction of setbacks. Israel has vowed not to lift its crushing blockade of impoverished Gaza until Schalit is returned home. That could seriously impede reconstruction there after Israel's recent military offensive because building materials and equipment won't be able to enter the territory, home to 1.4 million Palestinians.

The continued blockade could also hamper efforts to cement a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, which in turn would carry the threat of a sudden escalation in the low-level violence that has continued since the war ended on Jan. 18.

On Wednesday, Schalit's father, Noam, blamed Olmert for failing to free his son and said the family would dismantle a protest tent it set up outside Olmert's residence on Saturday - 1,000 days since the serviceman was captured.

[cbsantispin]

cbsantispin, you seem deranged. Have you considered therapy?

Posted by realitycalls at 4:36 AM : Mar 21, 2009

Maybe all of us are deranged, how do you define "normal" without someone challenging your definition and offering their own? All I can do is pray hard and hope God forgives my sins and lets me enter Heaven. Peace.

[cbsantispin]

Posted by realitycalls at 5:36 PM : Mar 20, 2009

I see you want to keep this dialog going! You don't know when to quit! You keep changing the subject and not addressing my previous Post! Who is losing the "focus" now? You!! LOL I didn't mention anything about the Jewish culture, you keep mentioning Jews, not me, you keep bringing up Jews and Israel being a multicultural nation, maybe its you who have a Jew thing, check your Post with me. Since you bring up Jews in this dialog, many do think Hitler's criticism of the Jews was right on, only his solution and how he handled it was wrong, not the criticism! I know what my country is about and I know what Israel is about, both nations are night and day different. Can you handle the truth? You sure you want to go there Jew baiter?

[cbsantispin]

Posted by realitycalls at 4:43 PM : Mar 20, 2009

Sorry to burst your bubble, I'm 100% American, born and raised in the United States, take your sick Post and get lost Israeli kiss a s s loser! You can have the last word.

[cbsantispin]

Posted by realitycalls at 12:30 PM : Mar 20, 2009

The United States can do without Israel and writing Israel that $3 billion a year welfare check. I support Israel because its my governments official policy to do so, I could just as easily not support Israel too! The U.S. bends over backwards supporting Israel despite the fact that Israel acts like an out of control 2 year old and continues to stab the U.S. in the back, continues to bite the hand that feeds it as in the case of Israeli Spy Jonathan Jay Pollard, who was caught red handed on Surveillance Video in the act of stealing classified documents and passing them to Israel. I'm sure Israel has many Jonathan Pollard's active and spying inside the United States. I hope Pollard rots in jail forever, Israel continues to lobby for his release, I wonder why, so he can get a hero's welcome in Israel? if we mention Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, its your moral case that sinks into the Mediterranean, not mine! The U.S. can do without high maintenance, always needs a U.N. Veto Israel, can Israel do with out U.S.? Lets see? Go Away!

[cbsantispin]

Posted by realitycalls at 9:59 AM : Mar 20, 2009

Israel made the same mistake former Pres. Bush made after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., and that is squandering and throwing away Worldwide sympathy and support by implementing an out of proportion and heavy handed response. Israel's response to attacks are so out of proportion against the Palestinians that few if any see the negative Palestinian actions against Israel because everyone is overwhelmed and blinded by Israeli counter atrocities. Few are understanding, supportive and sympathetic to the Israeli cause. Israel is perceived as the bad guy now, the criminal, not Hamas, Hezbollah and the extremist Palestinians. Israel has lost the public opinion and public relations game and may never get it back! Israel, whether its accurate or not is now perceived as using the slightest Palestinian or Hamas attack no matter how trivial as a license for a brutal out of proportion response where Israeli responses and actions don't match the crime! Your sick and disgustingly loyal support for Israel no matter what Israel does by using adverse actions of the Palestrinians and Hamas is a part of the problem and a serious obstacle to correcting Israeli bad behavior.

[cbsantispin]

rogue cops in a neighborhood???

Let's not pretend that you were looking the other way???

Posted by realitycalls at 8:03 AM : Mar 20, 2009

The United States has been more than fair with Israel, looking the other way while Israel crossed the line repeatedly killing Palestinian civilians in the name of going after terrorist. The images of dead Palestinian children at the hands of the Israeli killing machine are not fake! The issues are larger than trying to dismiss them as Israeli rogue cops misbehaving in a neighborhood, rogue cops didn't bomb the USS Liberty killing Americans which Israel has yet to fully explain or atone for. Like I said, I support Israel but this discussion should end here, I don't want to go there. You take care.

[cbsantispin]

Posted by realitycalls at 5:00 AM : Mar 20, 2009

It's a classic tactic during blog debates for the losing side to start attacking the winning blogger personally, the loser no longer able or willing to defend or discuss losing points, I think that's where we are now! LOL

[cbsantispin]

The whole World is on to Israeli games now. Posted by cbsantispin

1) narcissistic: inordinate fascination with oneself;
2) histrionic: deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional;
3) antisocial: opposed or detrimental to social order or the principles on which society is constituted;
4) all of the above? ?

Posted by realitycalls at 5:00 AM : Mar 20, 2009

1) Nostalgic Israeli a s s kisser
2) Failure to accept Israel's technology advantage is waning
3) Failure to appreciate America's frustration with arrogant/stubborn Israel
4) All of the above??

[cbsantispin]

If they weren't the closest thing to civilization the region, people might sympathize with your argument. The fact that every political group within striking distance of Israel is essentially criminal, mediaeval, racist, sexist, homophobic ...

Bah. It doesn't make an impression, does it?

Posted by realitycalls at 9:07 PM : Mar 19, 2009

The whole World is on to Israeli games now, on to Israeli excuses, on to Israel sabotaging the peace process every time a peace deal gets close! The World wants peace in the Middle East, the World wants the Palestinians to have a State, for Israel to stop building Settlements in occupied territories and for Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, dragging the U.S. into a 3rd war front. Israel has run out of support for its arguments and political positions, its time for Israel to get this peace process moving and completed. Time has run out for Israel's point of view, the World is tired now and wants to move on and try a different approach. Israel's continued resistance and opposition will lead to a solution being forced and pushed down Israel's throat. It may not seem like it but I actually support Israel and if I feel this way, you can imagine how those who don't support Israel feel. It's time for Israel to get it done, no more delaying tactics!

[cbsantispin]

Posted by realitycalls at 1:14 PM : Mar 19, 2009

The U.S. does not need to agree with and support everything Israel does. Israel's dodo stinks like everyone elses. Every time someone criticizes Israel, it does not automatically make them an Osama bin Laden sympathizer. Israel is not above criticism and is not entitled to $4 billion in annual U.S. Aid no matter what Israel does, no matter what International Laws Israel breaks and no matter what crimes Israel may commit or U.N. reolutions Israel ignores! If the United States does not agree with Israeli policies then the U.S. should not financially, militarily or politically support Israel until Israel gets with the program!

[cbsantispin]

factseacher:
realitycalls:

With the advent of installing the election loser Benjamin Netanyahu as the Israeli Prime Minister, Israel is sending a clear signal Israel is not interested in Peace, a Palestinian State or stopping the building of Settlements in occupied territories. I hope the U.S. sends an equally strong signal in return and at a minimum cut of the $4 billion annually in U.S. Aid. You both need to stop drinking the Israeli KoolAid.

[factsearcher]

The endless conflict of the ME has a lot to do with the eternal desire of extremist parties (call them, hezbollah, hamas, alqaida, cels, etc) pounding on the poor and needed in order to brainwash and acquire power. Nothing more and nothing less.
POWER. Israel happens to be be in the way of their regional objectives (thank goodness because I can only imagine what the world would be now without them in the region...with their capabalities!)
After 911, America had a little taste of what really has been going on and we cannot forget what Europe, Africa, Philippines, Sudan, Somalia... have been exposed to for years.
It is not about politics and emotions.
It is about power and domination. This monster is becoming bigger and bigger. Who will have the guts to to burt this bubble before its too late. Everybody looks solely at Israel.

Only, the above average intelligent person can truly understand that Israel is our hope, eyes, ears and shield when it comes to the ME chaos.

[cbsantispin]

The endless conflicts in the Middle East are all about the politics between the mind and the emotions, if the mind doesn't figure out a way to get the upper hand over the emotions, these conflicts will eventually spiral out of control and our world will end.

[cbsantispin]

People elected to power have a different kind of energy associated with their power than people appointed to power. People appointed to power always seem and appear weaker than those elected to power. Having lost Israel's Prime Minister election to winner Tzipi Livni and appointed to power as Israeli Prime Minister over the will of the Israeli Voters, Benjamin Netanyahu will be the Roland Burris of Israel.

[cbsantispin]

realitycalls:

You ask me what's my agenda? That's perfect, because I don't have one! That's exactly the way I want it. My perceptions and comments are pure and heartfelt. Israel is taking advantage of it's relationship with the U.S., I don't like it, if I was forced to pick an agenda, speaking out against Israel exploiting the U.S. would be it.

[cbsantispin]

realitycalls:

Perception is reality, it looks like the Israeli Hawks want to bomb Irans nuclear complex and support pro war Benjamin Netanyahu over pro peace Tzipi Livni and stole Livni's Election victory from her! I'm concerned Israel will bomb Iran without touching base with the U.S. first and dragging the U.S. into another war. The aggression has to stop by all involved, it's nothing more than revenge and counter revenge on steroids! Enough!

[cbsantispin]

First of all, Parliamentary governments are formed in the exact manner it was done in Israel...look it up. Democracy as its best.

Posted by factsearcher at 3:25 PM : Mar 17, 2009

Judging from the results, Parliamentary governments look stupid! Why have the civilian population Vote at all if the results will be overturned to the liking of the Parliament? The Israeli people Voted and elected Tzipi Livni, the Israeli Parliament Voted and elected Benjamin Netanyahu, whats wrong with that picture? Doesn't look Democratic to me! It looks like letting the Israeli people Vote is a waste of time, why not just have the Israeli Parliament Vote and select whomever they want since that's how it ends up anyway? Sometimes "simple" is good! What it looks like is that Tzipi Livni won Israel's Prime Minister election and got s c r e w e d!

[cbsantispin]

You don't seem to focus, but that's okay.

Posted by realitycalls at 1:12 PM : Mar 17, 2009

It depends on how you define "focus", in fact when dealing with Israel, "focus" may be the problem! Israel is a complex puzzle that needs to be broken down and reassembled where it makes sense from a U.S. perspective! Let me give you a simple example of where focus doesn't paint the proper picture. The United States and Israel are very close military allies, the U.S. has restrictions on selling U.S. military technology to China, the sale of U.S. military technology to China is forbidden by U.S. Law. You would think Israel being a close U.S. ally who receives over $4 Billion annually in U.S. Aid with no strings attached would not need to be specifically told not to sell advanced military technology to China that U.S. forces may face defending a Taiwan invasion, but Israel does exactly that and in most cases circumvent U.S. Law even further by selling military technology in parts and pieces to China to be reassembled after its delivered to get around Laws and Agreements. The U.S. actually has to negotiate and sign agreements with Israel to make sure Israel observes rules and U.S. Laws on these military and advanced technology sales to China which for the most part Israel seeks to break out of. This is not the behavior of a close ally, its the behavior of a two faced backstabber! In order to make the point further, what Israel is doing with China would be like the U.S. having 50 active military contracts with Hezzbollah and Hamas over Israeli objections. If you "focus" on Israel being a sovereign nation that can decide what it wants then military sales to China may not look so bad, but in the broader picture of Israel being a close U.S. ally, the military and advanced technology sales to China look irresponsible and shady. The United States also would never have destroyed the Lebanese infrastructure the way Israel did or drop cluster bombs illegally all over Lebanon, I'm sure the U.S. regrets selling Cluster Bombs to Israel now, the U.S. would never have used Cluster Bombs in that manner dropping them all over civilian living areas, many kids died touching those unexploded Cluster Bombs, but enough of the obvious, true Democracies don't do things like that!

[factsearcher]

THe post below shows how narrow minds think without even researching their empty narrowed opinions.
First of all, Parliamentary governments are formed in the exact manner it was done in Israel...look it up. Democracy as its best.
Second of all, who in the world can truly believe that USA will follow orders from Israel in attacking Iran.... are you fifth grader? Actually 5th graders are smater!
What's happening with Bibi is that most of you don't like his straight forward no bull way to do business.
It is simple.
As long as hamas continues terrorizing Gaza and its population, as long as they continue smuggling weapons thru tunnels, using their women and children as suicide bombers, hiding in common populated areas so cowardly to avoid being caught or killed, shooting rockets constantly.......
As long as the violence continues...there is no agreement, there is no opening of borders, there is NO DEAL!
That simple! That's why Bibi is soooo good for Israel.



In my view this idea that Israel is a "true" Democracy is now debatable. In the recent Israeli elections to decide the next Israeli Prime Minister, the Israeli people spoke, Tzipi Livni was the winner! Tzipi Livni supports the creation of a Palestinian State and a halt to Israeli Settlements in occupied territories. Benjamin Netanyahu who lost the recent Israeli election for Prime Minister to the "clear winner" Tzipi Livni is being installed anyway by right wing fanatics who refuse to accept the Israeli election results or listen to the voice and will of the Israeli Electorate! What is the point of Israeli elections? Israeli elections appear to be all show and no substance! Benjamin Netanyahu represents no Palestinian State, continued construction in occupied territories, an attack on Iran's nuclear complex and manipulating events to drag the U.S. into a war with Iran whether the U.S. thinks a war with Iran is in its best interest or not! Benjamin Netanyahu is a far right wing "war monger" hell bent on attacking Iran's nuclear facilities and dragging the U.S. along with him when he thinks the timing is right. If the U.S. attacks Iran's nuclear complex it should be a U.S. decision, not Israels, if the U.S. opens up a 3rd war front, it should be a U.S. decision, not Israels and if the U.S. does agree to attack Iran's nuclear complex with Israel, it should be a U.S. decision, not Israels! What the U.S. should make 100% clear to coup d'etat victor Benjamin Netanyahu is that he should not attack Iran's nuclear facilities and expect automatic, blank check U.S. support! The U.S. has to talk like this when dealing with Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli hawks who interpret fuzzy understandings with the U.S. to mean Israel has a blank check to do whatever it wants, previous Israeli events speak for themselves on this. Israel is another version of the current "AIG" who uses U.S. aid and weapons to do things even the U.S. itself would not do. Tzipi Livni won the recent Israeli election, not Benjamin Netanyahu and we should not even be here!

Posted by cbsantispin

[cbsantispin]

realitycalls:

The confusion over how the Israeli government functions originates from Israel itself, Its Israel that claims to be a Democracy modeled after the United States when in fact it's nothing of the kind, unless Israel is referring to it's most recent election where it copied Bush/Gore 2000, that's the only thing resembling the U.S. to me and as close as Israel gets to Democracy!