Friday, July 14, 2006

Quick Hits on Day Zero

I have hit day zero in the lead up to the big birthday countdown in my family. Today starts with my mother's, mine to follow in 2 days, Isaiah Sender's on Monday and ending with the Last Amazon's on the 24th so time is limited. Why the Last Amazon chose to sign up to run a triathlon on my birthday is beyond my understanding, and I fully intend to hold it against her, in the hopes that I can get out of cooking entirely on Sunday. Since my time is limited and I have to call my mother before I leave for work, here's just a quick round-up.

The IDF repel an infiltration attempt by Hezbollah and widen the offensive reports the Jerusalem Post:

IDF forces foiled an infiltration attempt by Hizbullah operatives near an IDF post close to Zar'it on the northern border on Friday. Troops opened fire towards the infiltrators and clashes erupted in the area. Meanwhile, IAF fighter-bombers blasted Beirut International Airport in the third attack on the nation's sole international facility since the military offensive was launched against Lebanon three days ago.

Airport officials said one of the three runways was hit with two missiles and Lebanese eyewitnesses reported that a nearby residential building was struck in the raid. No casualties were reported. About an hour before Friday's raid, the five remaining Airbus jets belonging to the national carrier Middle East Airlines flew to Amman for safety reasons, officials said.

Earlier, the IAF struck the main Hizbullah headquarters building in Beirut as well as an adjacent structure that housed security guards. The IDF said that the headquarters, which were in the Shi'ite neighborhood of Dahiya, were used to direct terrorism around the world. Police said that three people were killed and 55 wounded in overnight IAF air strikes against the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs where Hizbullah has its strongholds.

Israel widened its offensive on Lebanon early Friday with an air strike on the southern suburbs of the capital that are strongholds of Hizbullah and a raid on a large fuel storage tank at a power station, police and witnesses said. The impact of at least seven missiles were heard in the attack on south Beirut in the hours before dawn on Friday, according to an AP photographer, reporter and other witnesses. Anti-aircraft fire from the ground echoed in other suburbs of Beirut as the planes roared over the Lebanese capital.

The Galilee has been hit, reports Ynet News:
A Katyusha rocket barrage landed Friday morning in an open area in the Moshav Biria, near Safed. There were no reports of injuries, and fire fighters were working to put out the fire that started in the area. Simulatnaously, rockets were fired at Rosh Pina. There were no reports of injuries. earlier, rockets landed in open areas near Kibbutz Baram in the Galilee panhandle.

A senior Hizbullah official told the al-Arabiya network that "the Lebanese resistance is preparing further surprises in response to Israel's bombardments tonigh and this morning in Lebanon."

Asked whether Hizbullah plans to fire additional rockets at Haifa, the official added: "We promised to respond and we will stick by our commitments. The way to respond is up to our commanders in the field, and the enemy should prepare for surprises."

So much for Hezbollah's denial earlier stating that they did not fire on Haifa. The damage does not seem to be extensive and on a purely personal note, Haifa is the place that the Last Amazon and I had decided to use as our primarily base when we visit Israel upon her graduation. You have no idea how peeved I will be if the shelling keeps up.

The current Israel Defense Minister had a run-in with a Katyusha reports the Jerusalem Post:
Peretz arrived at the military base overlooking Safed at 1:30 PM and went straight into a meeting with OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz. During the meeting, large explosions were heard in the background and Peretz's military attach Brig.-Gen. Eitan Dangot began arguing with another officer whether the explosions were caused by Israeli artillery fire or Katyusha rockets landing nearby.

Suddenly a siren went off throughout the base and without wasting anytime or taking chances, Peretz's team of Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) security guards decided to rush the minister to a nearby underground bunker. Peretz at first laughed and told the officers at the meeting: "I am from Sderot. This is not such a big deal."

Before entering the bunker, Peretz tried to hold a meeting with leaders of local councils in the North about the current tense situation. The meeting, however, was cut short after the security guards decided to move it to the bunker. On his way out of the meeting, Yonit Levy, Channel 2's anchorwoman, tried provoking the minister and asked him: "What do you say to the people who claim you are a defense minister without experience?" Peretz decided not to answer and told journalists: "Don't get excited. I come from Sderot where there are constantly Kassam attacks."

The Iranian president is threatening Israel with retailiation if Israel attacks Syria.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Israel against extending its offensive in Lebanon to neighboring Syria and said such a move would equate to an attack against the Islamic world, the official Iranian news agency reported Friday.
Syria and Shiite Muslim Iran are the top backers of the Shiite Hezbollah guerrilla in Lebanon.

"If the occupying regime of Jerusalem attacks Syria, it will be equivalent to an attack on the whole Islamic world and the regime (Israel) will face a crushing response" Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
Ahmadinejad made the comments in a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad to assure him of his support. The Iranian leader called on Muslim countries to create a united front against Israel. "The Islamic world, especially countries in this region, need more unity and integrity, particularly in the context of Lebanon and Palestine," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. "The Islamic republic of Iran supports the case (for unity) with all its diplomatic capacity," he said.

Separately, the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry denied Israeli allegations that the captured Israeli soldiers were being transferred to Iran.

I know there is a general consensus that Syria is pulling the strings on Hezbollah and that targeting Syria for Hezbollah’s actions would make a far more effective response, but Israel can only play the hand it is given. Until some hard evidence comes to light that Syria sponsored the recent attack, Israel’s hands are tied. The IDF must rise to meet the threats that come openly and not chase the shadows in the night at this time.

But what is the real purpose of Iran’s threat to Israel? Israelis do not live in the dark ages and are very well aware that Syria and Iran signed a mutual defense treaty less than a month ago. The signing ceremony was well covered by the world press. So one has to ask; what is the point of issuing an open threat to Israel when Israel’s response has been measured to target Hezbollah in Lebanon. Are the Iranians now attempting to use schoolyard goading in the hopes of provoking an Israeli response?

Has the Israeli state been around so long in the Middle East that even the Iranians are now presuming that Israeli state can be presumed to think and act like every other third world Arab despot?

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