World Israeli Tanks Enter Gaza

[The Helper]

For the first time since the start of Operation Cast Lead, IDF ground troops entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, exchanging fire with Hamas gunmen.

The IDF said that a large amount of Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and Infantry troops entered the territory with the purpose of destroying Hamas infrastructure and preventing rocket fire by taking control of launching pads in northern Gaza.

The IDF warned that terrorists using civilians as human shields would bear full responsibility for their fate.

The cabinet also approved the call-up of thousands of reservists, mostly from combat units, but also from the Home Front Command.

IDF Ground Offensive in Gaza Has Begun – The Moderate Voice

themoderatevoice.com

---------------------
And so it begins....

 

[Seb!]

We're paying for it all. :thup:

 

[Jackal]

The IDF warned that terrorists using civilians as human shields would bear full responsibility for their fate.

I'm guessing that is their way of shifting the blame of civilian casualties


Also, Gaza ftw.

 

[Prometheus]

I hope DJ hasn't left us!

 

[Jolly chap*]

I don't understand what's going on. >.<

 

[Varine]

I don't understand what's going on. >.<

Palestinians want their own country. They want the Gaza Strip, which was taken over by Hamas a little while back. Hamas is a radical Palestinian group who hates Israel. For a while Hamas was fighting Fatah, Fatah lost big time even with the support of the US and Israel. Now Israel wants their land back and don't want to share with the Palestinians so they are invading to take it back, rather than give them Gaza and the West Bank and make it all go away.

 

[undeadorcjerk]

Palestinians want their own country. They want the Gaza Strip, which was taken over by Hamas a little while back. Hamas is a radical Palestinian group who hates Israel. For a while Hamas was fighting Fatah, Fatah lost big time even with the support of the US and Israel. Now Israel wants their land back and don't want to share with the Palestinians so they are invading to take it back, rather than give them Gaza and the West Bank and make it all go away.

You coulda saved some time by saying humanity is retarded and should be content with what they have.



But thanks for explaining. I didn't know why either.

 

[Varine]

You coulda saved some time by saying humanity is retarded and should be content with what they have.



But thanks for explaining. I didn't know why either.

They should be content with being suppressed and refused any amount of land to call their own?

 

[Seb!]

U.S. Shoots Down U.N. Call For Ceasefire

The U.N. met for four hours Saturday night after Israel began a ground incursion into Gaza, but failed to reach agreement on any statement, and rejected a Libyan-sponsored proposal calling for an immediate ceasefire.

The U.N. Security Council had issued a consensus statement on New Year’s Eve, but the Deputy U.S. Ambassador, Alejandro Wolff, blocked anything in writing which would have come out of the late-night meeting, which took place shortly after the ground incursion began.

The reason, Wolff said, was that the U.S. believed that there was no immediate prospect that Hamas militants would cease their rocket attacks against Israel.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/04/world/main4697348.shtml?tag=topHome;topStories

 

[Jackal]

An excellent cartoon in the Independent on Sunday today:

 

[Varine]

The UN is the most useless thing... ever.

Hamas isn't going to cease fire; the UN doesn't have sanctions over them so they can do what they want. Not that much would probably be done anyway.

 

[Jackal]

The reason, Wolff said, was that the U.S. believed that there was no immediate prospect that Hamas militants would cease their rocket attacks against Israel.

Too bad invading Gaza won't stop the missiles.

 

[undeadorcjerk]

They should be content with being suppressed and refused any amount of land to call their own?

As long as you have food, clothing, and a roof over your head, yes. Be content with being suppressed.

 

[Varine]

As long as you have food, clothing, and a roof over your head, yes. Be content with being suppressed.

Okay, so basically that's what you get as a POW. Or a prisoner in general. Very effective persuasion.

I take it you are someone who rarely complains when the government intervenes with your life?

 

[FireCat]

We're paying for it all. :thup:

Yes we do... and that is wrong ..

 

[Effane]

You know, the sad thing was after Arafat died and Hamas was leaderless and fractured the Palestinians were having an improved way of life. Then the return of Hamas and once again they have to suffer.

Hamas likes the power of both attacking Israel and forcing the people in Gaza/West Bank to suffer bombardments. Also, what is Israel supposed to do, at this time they look at those regions almost as not their land, to them this is an attack by a neighboring country.

The real tell in this will be if Israel actually stays to occupy, or leaves once they crush Hamas.

 

[Varine]

You know, the sad thing was after Arafat died and Hamas was leaderless and fractured the Palestinians were having an improved way of life. Then the return of Hamas and once again they have to suffer.

Hamas likes the power of both attacking Israel and forcing the people in Gaza/West Bank to suffer bombardments. Also, what is Israel supposed to do, at this time they look at those regions almost as not their land, to them this is an attack by a neighboring country.

The real tell in this will be if Israel actually stays to occupy, or leaves once they crush Hamas.

Technically it's theirs so they wouldn't really be occupying.

 

[uberfoop]

Pfft, if we blame Hamas for the entire problem, we get nowhere. That line of thinking prompts going in, destroying them, and doing nothing about the prosperity issues which caused the radicalization in the first place. Stripping Gaza of it's ability to function only increases the resolve of people to stop caring about their lives and radicalize. If Israel REALLY cares, they should pump funding into Gazan businesses so that the region can function on its own. Radicalization practically always follows a total lack of prosperity, and prosperity practically always cuts radicalization. The first thing that should have been done when the West Irelanded all over Palestinian lands is get the industry going. If people are going to be crammed into an area that can't sustain itself through standard means, they need business. If they can't get that going in the first place, and you put them in that position, you aren't in a position to complain when they violently radicalize and shoot rockets at you.



If Israel just leaves after finishing off Hamas, the prosperity issue will still be there, and Hamas 2.0 will most likely spring up some way or another.

 

[Seb!]

If Israel REALLY cares, they should pump funding into Gazan businesses so that the region can function on its own.

This is tough to instigate. What kind of job security, or security in general does a position hold in these disputed Israeli/Palestinian territories? The road system is underdeveloped and hazardous. Relations between Israelites and residents of the Gaza Strip are disrupted often. Of course, once Israel does regain control they will attempt to help the economy flourish, but it can be dangerous and devoid of profit.

 

[uberfoop]

Yea, but I figure the 'dangerous and devoid of profit' applies to moving in, trashing the place, and then leaving without occupation as well. No matter how you slice it, anything they do or don't do at this point will be wacky.

The situation just sucks, really, and could certainly have used care when it was established. As far as global policy disasters go, the methods of the establishment of Israel nowhere near top the list, but it's still pretty fail.