April 18, 2006

THEY WON'T ATTACK AN ALLY:

Israel resists revenge attack against Hamas (Tim Butcher, 19/04/2006, Daily Telegraph)

Israel has held back from authorising military strikes against the Hamas-led Palestinian government, despite holding it responsible for Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

Defence officials are believed to have drawn up a list of Hamas targets that could be attacked, although Ehud Olmert, Israel's interim prime minister, is staying his hand.

Military strikes on Hamas would end the ceasefire agreed 15 months ago after negotiations brokered by Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate Palestinian leader, to end the second intifada.

Hamas was not behind Monday's bombing, but its spokesmen said the attack was justified as retaliation for the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.


In fact, by striking Islamic Jihad the IDF will help Hamas to establish control over Palestine.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 18, 2006 9:28 PM
Comments

That's gotta be the first time that Israel has ever resisted an attack. Usually, they drop a couple bombs on densely populated areas. They end up killing the guy the tried to, but they kill about 15 others in the process.

Posted by: PoliticalCritic at April 18, 2006 10:13 PM

Got any citations for that?

Posted by: oj at April 18, 2006 10:18 PM

That would be here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salah_Shahade

Posted by: rps at April 18, 2006 11:01 PM

That would be one special instance, not usually, no?

Posted by: oj at April 18, 2006 11:04 PM

I doubt any other nation would show half as much restraint in a similar situation. The first time Israel resisted an "attack"? They let well known terrorists live openly and murder Israelis openly for years and years when they could have killed them. Avoiding collateral damage was one reason. Given that targeted killings were effective in reducing terrorism, I believe that was a mistake.

Posted by: wf at April 19, 2006 4:27 AM

Unlike Palestinian suicide bombers, PoliticalCritic, who bomb without discrimination. At least "they kill about 15 others in the process." Right?

Posted by: Seven Machos at April 19, 2006 8:11 AM

Seven:

Poor unsophisticated you. Don't you understand that is not killing, but rather freedom-fighting?

Posted by: Peter B at April 19, 2006 10:41 AM

A tiny country is birthed in the midst of 100 million Arabs determined to stop its existence ...

Posted by: Paul E. Steyn at April 19, 2006 10:56 AM

Seems like it might be time for some asymmetrical responses by Israel.

Posted by: ratbert at April 19, 2006 10:57 AM
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