Israel/Palestine; has the shit finally hit the fan?

[cronus]

The point is to severely disrupt Hamas command and control structures, smoke out hidden weapon caches in the ensuing chaos and thereby soften up Gaza before the main mission which is Iran. This current 'skirmish' is a prelude to the real Gulf conflict we have discussed on here elsewhere. It can only be weeks away if not days now. I suggest stockpiling fuel/food because it is likely the markets will react badly as this spirals out of control and things turn real ugly in the Gulf.

[pErvinalia]

Dunno. Remember there is an election in January. Israel nor America nor both could manage to gain control of Iran in that time. I'd imagine if anything was going to happen, it would be after january, and assuming Netanyahu or another hawk wins.

[cronus]

Dunno. Remember there is an election in January. Israel nor America nor both could manage to gain control of Iran in that time. I'd imagine if anything was going to happen, it would be after january, and assuming Netanyahu or another hawk wins.

Bibi might not want to risk the safety of the Israeli people to a election?

[pErvinalia]

What "safety" risk? There's certainly none from the Palestinians.

[cronus]

What "safety" risk? There's certainly none from the Palestinians.

That is the point of attacking Iran soon, whilst the window of local chaos, with Gaza and Syria, reduces the likelihood of near reprisal.

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

I think it's about the upcoming UN vote - for the Palestians to get "Observer Status".......does not require Security Council vote and a simple majority of all members. Does not give them recognition as a State, but will give them access to certain UN institutions - as well as simply acknowledging that they exist as a people.

I think the Israelis know they would lose the vote - my bet is they want a reason for it is to get it delayed or failing that to make sure the US votes against (rather than simply abstain)......and to make it harder for Egypt to get too involved in Gaza (both from fear of the Israelis making them look stupid militarily and from the US cutting off aid).......IMO the Israelis have got a bit too used to having a freindly / toothless Eqypt on it's borders.....in 20 years Egypt could be a lot more economically powerful and democratic, and maybe even with a nuke! (If Iran gets one.........)......would then be a lot harder to prevent Egypt sending aid into Gaza.

But at the moment IMO Hamas are overplaying the Egypt card - but the Palestinians have never been too bright!

[Svartalf]

What "safety" risk? There's certainly none from the Palestinians.

That is the point of attacking Iran soon, whilst the window of local chaos, with Gaza and Syria, reduces the likelihood of near reprisal.

except that their stirring the hornet nest is certainly getting hezbollah onto a war footing... and those are a lot better equipped and dangerous than hamas. l

[cronus]

What "safety" risk? There's certainly none from the Palestinians.

That is the point of attacking Iran soon, whilst the window of local chaos, with Gaza and Syria, reduces the likelihood of near reprisal.

except that their stirring the hornet nest is certainly getting hezbollah onto a war footing... and those are a lot better equipped and dangerous than hamas. l

It's gonna be a mess anyway...

[Gerald McGrew]

So did Israel kill the Hamas military chief before Hamas fired any rockets into Israel?

[Gerald McGrew]

Looks like the answer is, no. Hamas had been firing rockets into Israel before Ahmed Al-Jaabari was killed.

[Svartalf]

Looks like the answer is, no. Hamas had been firing rockets into Israel before Ahmed Al-Jaabari was killed.

U sure?
I dinna hear of palestis starting it up this time, plus the size and efficiency of the israeli op shows premeditation, you don't kill that kind of target by chance, and the French news consistently spoke of an israeli op, not of a response.

[cronus]

Looks like the answer is, no. Hamas had been firing rockets into Israel before Ahmed Al-Jaabari was killed.

U sure?
I dinna hear of palestis starting it up this time, plus the size and efficiency of the israeli op shows premeditation, you don't kill that kind of target by chance, and the French news consistently spoke of an israeli op, not of a response.

It is possibly a delayed response, waiting until after the US election. The missile barrage from Hamas is about four months old so there is some planning, whether that dovetails with a larger issue we'll know soon enough.

[Gerald McGrew]

According to this article: http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Israel+k ... story.html

The Hamas military leader was killed on Wednesday, but the article states, "In the latest confrontation, which appeared to have ended on Tuesday, more than 115 missiles were fired into southern Israel from Gaza and Israeli planes launched numerous strikes."

[Jason]

No one is invading Iran because Romney lost the US election and the Obama administration isn't that stupid. Israel will not attack Iran unless it is sure of US support and Iran will not attack Israel because they know if they're the belligerent party they will lose all international sympathy and Israel will get the support it wants. So war with Iran is probably a no go which is why Israel needs to stir up shit with the Palestinians and implicate Iran. Besides being sickening, it's all pretty tiresome.

[cronus]

No one is invading Iran because Romney lost the US election and the Obama administration isn't that stupid. Israel will not attack Iran unless it is sure of US support and Iran will not attack Israel because they know if they're the belligerent party they will lose all international sympathy and Israel will get the support it wants. So war with Iran is probably a no go which is why Israel needs to stir up shit with the Palestinians and implicate Iran. Besides being sickening, it's all pretty tiresome.

If only people were rational in the Middle East?