Should it be called a pause or a lull?

The sad part about the ongoing rocket attacks being launched via Hamas in the Gaza Strip into Israel is how little news play each missile launched gets.

Usually, random attacks barely make a blip on the news feeds unless it causes spectacular damage or injury. Believe it or not, a two kassams have hit Israel in less than 24 hours. Arutz Sheva carries the report.

And the point of ceasefire is?

Yesterday, at least six rockets hit Israel and a Grad rocket hit an Israeli school Saturday morning.

Palestinian in the Gaza Strip fired at least five projectiles at southern Israel on Saturday morning, with a Grad-type rocket hitting an Asheklon school. No one was wounded in the attack, as the school was closed, though a number of residents were treated for shock. Another Grad rocket landed in an open area just outside the city. (Jerusalem Post)

Here’s the thing. Since this isn’t the ‘kassam’ type rocket which is the Gaza Strip’s cottage industry, it obviously had to be bought from outside the Gaza Strip. The only group we know has ‘grad type rocket’s are Hamas, so all pretense that the rocket fire is coming from disenfranchised smaller terror group, should be over. Hamas blew their own cover on this one.

Secondly, Hamas knows it now has the coordinates for a school and it wants Israel to know that as well which is why this kind of rocket was deliberately launched at this target today. It is only a hop, skip and a jump to launch another grad when school is actually in session. Thirdly, Hamas is feeling politically very secure in the knowledge that Israeli retailiation is minimal at this stage.

And why wouldn’t they? They survived the Israeli Operation Cast Lead and lived to fire another day. One day, the Israelis will launch another Operation Cast Lead, and Israelis detractors will claim the Israeli state is overacting and perhaps they will have a point when most rockets launched are not met with the force the situation demands.

and the point is?

It occurs to me that since the kassam fire has yet to cease that perhaps now is not the most prudent time to divert funding or provide funding for a Gaza Strip reconstruction effort.

But hey, that’s just my opinion.

Sez Fire!

During the recent ceasefire it has been anything but a cease of fire from the launching of rockets and mortars into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Recently, the claims of responsibility for these missiles and mortars come from some unheard of group or from some of the smaller groups acting within the Gaza Strip. This morning the Jerusalem Post reports a grad missile hit Ashkelon.

Palestinians fired a Grad rocket at Ashkelon Tuesday morning, the first instance of such a rocket being fired into Israel since the end of Operation Cast Lead approximately two weeks ago. There were no casualties reported in the attack, but some damage to the surrounding area was reported.

It is from Ynet News where we learn the ‘some damage’ is really a miracle no one’s life was lost in this attack.

Rafi Zvi, a bus driver, was making his way from the city's central bus station. "The siren sounded as I left the station and began driving. I screamed to the passengers to get out immediately. There are sometimes those who are very confident and just stay there, but this time I had a bad feeling and I virtually pushed the passengers out.

"We ran towards the Israel Electric building, and as we escaped we saw the missile above our heads and heard a loud explosion. The back part of the bus, where quite a few passengers had been sitting, was shattered. We were really lucky, it was simply a miracle."

A grad missile cannot be made in a Palestinian kitchen or basement. It can only be purchased from China or from one of countries importing Chinese grad missiles. There is only one group acting in the Gaza Strip which has possession of these Chinese made missiles – Hamas.

There are those who would have you believe all missiles launched into the Israeli state are relatively harmless and point to the low casualty figures as evidence but do not be suckered into believing this for a minute. These rockets are lethal and the only reason more Israelis have not died as a result has more to do with providence – some would say divine, others would say luck, and still others would say it is the result of an interesting coincidence but still providence all the same.

What a difference a day does not make.

The trouble with the Israeli-Hamas truce officially ending is that it looks so much like the day before. Yesterday via Jerusalem Post:

A Kassam rocket struck an open area in a kibbutz in the western Negev on Thursday. The latest strike brings the number of Kassam rocket attacks for the day up to eight.

And today (Jerusalem Post):

Palestinian terrorists fired three Kassam rockets at the western Negev on Friday morning, slightly over an hour after the cease-fire between Israel and Gaza factions officially ended. Two of the rockets landed in open fields in the Eshkol region, while the third slammed into the Sha'ar Hanegev area. No one was wounded and no damage was reported. Also Friday morning, Gaza terrorists fired at farmers near Kibbutz Nir Oz, in the Eshkol region.

While today’s count looks a little on the low side remember the day has yet to end. The only upside I can see is that apparently the Gaza Strip Hamas leadership has decided to pull a Saddam and are reportedly hiding out in their very own spidey holes.

The 'Calm' is Over

For the last few weeks there have been various reportings suggesting Hamas would not continue the ‘truce’ with the Israelis, but almost every official quoted was based out of Damacus rather than the Gaza Strip, so there were a little bit of creditability issues with the reports being carried. Reuters is carrying the first Hamas official based in the Gaza Strip who has gone on record suggesting the truce is no more and will not be renewed which I have read.

GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas on Thursday declared an end to a six-month-old Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, raising the prospect of an escalation in cross-border fighting.

"The calm is over," Hamas official Ayman Taha said in an announcement after concluding talks with Palestinian factions in the coastal enclave controlled by the Islamist group.

He said the ceasefire, which Hamas says was scheduled to expire on December 19, would not be renewed "because the enemy did not abide by its obligations" to ease a crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip and halt all attacks.

Hamas stopped short of threatening an immediate escalation against Israel, which had hoped to extend the truce and appears wary of a confrontation that could cause heavy casualties on both sides. The European Union, in a statement, called for an "immediate cessation" of both rocket fire and Israeli incursions.

Yadda, Yadda to the EU. And I gotta love Reuters for always being consistent in getting their little anti-Israeli jibes in.

Tensions along the Israeli-Gaza border have been escalating since early last month when a deadly Israeli army raid triggered a wave of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

That deadly IDF raid – let’s just say – there is no human right to build tunnels into Israel from the Gaza Strip. But overall, let's just say its somewhat of a relief. I mean how much non-truce are the Israelis suppose to absorb. Now send in the missiles for every kassam – Hezbollah style.

Truce Redux

The Jerusalem Post is reporting 23 kassams were launched against Israeli from the Gaza Strip yesterday:

Twenty-three Kassam rockets pounded the western Negev on Wednesday as the IDF went on high alert ahead of the official end of the cease-fire on Friday. One of the rockets struck next to a shopping center in Sderot, wounding three people and causing extensive damage to storefronts and parked cars. The wounded were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.

Following the attack, the IDF bombed two rocket launchers in the northern Gaza Strip, next to Beit Hanun. The military said the launchers were ready for use. Moments later, two more Kassams hit the Sdot Negev region and another struck the Sha'ar Hanegev region

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Another 9 kassams have been launched so far today. Good thing the truce lasts for another day.

Truce, truce, what is truce?

Here is a typical Israeli-Palestinian irony for you courtesy of Ha’aretz:

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday fired four Qassam rockets and a mortat shell at the western Negev, just days before a six-month truce between Israel and Gaza factions was set to expire. The rockets exploded in open fields in the Eshkol Regional Council, while the shell struck the nearby area of Sdot Negev.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced just after the attack that border crossings with the Gaza Strip would be closed again, due to security concerns. Meanwhile, Hamas' leadership on Monday adopted a united stance not to extend the truce with Israel, which is set to expire on Friday, December 19. This stance comes after group leaders expressed contradictory positions with regard to the cease-fire on on Sunday.

On Sunday, the Damascus-based head of Hamas' political bureau, Khaled Meshal, had said precisely that, but Gaza-based leaders of the movement insisted that no decision had yet been reached. Monday, however, Hamas' spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Ayman Taha, said the movement had concluded that there was no point in extending the truce "as long as Israel isn't abiding by its terms" - though he added that talks on continuing the cease-fire were still taking place.

Kassams and mortars have been launched repeatedly and consistently from the Gaza Strip since the June truce when into play but only now is Hamas suggesting the ‘truce’ will be coming to an end. Go figure.

The Kassam Truce

Ynet News reports kassams were again flying yesterday:

A Qassam rocket landed Saturday afternoon in an open area near a community in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The Color Red alert system was activated at around 1:05 pm in Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities. Several seconds later, an explosion was heard near one of the communities.

On Thursday, two Qassam rockets landed in the western Negev. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Fatah's military wing, claimed responsibility, saying the rockets were fired in response to the assassination of Talal Abed just outside the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday.

But never fear for Hamas is on the job:

Several hours later, Hamas announced it had arrested two Fatah members who had launched the rockets towards Israel. Hamas sources reported that "the rocket fire threatens the truce. This is an attempt to thwart the truce and not a response to Israel's actions."

Well, well, I am sure no one sleeps easier known Hamas is on alert.

Truce. Truce. This is Truce?

This ‘truce’ is looking a whole lot like the last ‘truce’. Jerusalem Post:

The Gaza truce was broken yet again on Friday morning as terrorists fired two mortar shells at southern Israel. One of the shells landed near Kibbutz Kfar Aza, in the Sha'ar Hanegev region, while the other hit an open area. No one was wounded and no damage was reported.

On Thursday afternoon, a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza hit the Sderot industrial zone, exploding near a gas station. No casualties or damage to property were reported in the attack, for which Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility.

Monday night mortar, Tuesday & Thursday afternoon rockets and now Friday morning incomings. Perhaps there is just no truce to be had, nu? Of course, on the other side of the fence, the UN has reported 7 Israeli violations of the alleged truce.

Apparently, the IDF has been firing at any Palestinians who came into close contact with the Israel border area from the Gaza Strip or on any Gazans who attempted to cross into Israeli waters. Meanwhile the UN has only reported 1 Palestinian violation of the truce. Apparently, mortars and rockets fired on any other day than Tuesday do not count as Palestinian violations of the truce. Good to know.

Prophetic – I think not

But it sure is fun to see what a difference a day makes. Yesterday, the Jerusalem Post ran a piece suggesting that Islamic Jihad had every intention of violating the Gaza Strip truce despite publicly agreeing to abide by the conditions of the truce. And today they do – and not just with one measly rocket either. The Jerusalem Post

Three Kassam rockets hit the western Negev on Tuesday afternoon, in a second violation of a cease-fire that Hamas has been abiding by since it went into effect last Thursday. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that the attack was to avenge an IDF raid that killed one of its members in the West Bank early Tuesday. "We cannot keep our hands tied when this is happening to our brothers in the West Bank," the group said in a statement. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the rocket attack "came as result of Israeli provocation this morning." He added, however, that Hamas was "committed to the calm" "We will talk and we will make sure that all of the factions are committed to the calm, too," he said.

A statement from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Office has condemned the attack as a "gross violation" of the truce, but did not say whether it would retaliate. I hear an echo in my memory and think - where have I heard this all before? Maybe here, nu?

Talking Truce with Hamastan

After a hard week apparently Hamas is ready to talk turkey. This report is taken from Yahoo News:

GAZA CITY, Gaza City - On Islam's most important holiday, the leader of Gaza's Hamas government appealed Wednesday for a cease-fire with Israel and said his people — battered by Israeli military strikes and international sanctions — are greeting this year's feast with "tears in our eyes."

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman said there could be no deals with Hamas until it renounces violence and recognizes Israel, though one Cabinet minister said Israel might consider outside mediation with the Islamic militants.
Israel and Hamas have never had direct contacts because of the group's violently anti-Israel ideology. But they have agreed to short truces negotiated by third parties.

The appeal from Ismail Haniyeh, who heads the Hamas government in Gaza, came in a phone call to an Israeli TV reporter, said Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu. It followed a two-day air assault by Israeli forces that killed 12 Gaza militants, two from Hamas and 10 from Islamic Jihad. Israel "should stop its attacks and siege," Nunu said. "Then a truce would be possible, and not unlikely." Hamas officials said they were working with other militant groups to try to stop the rocket fire into Israel and also sent overtures to Israel through unidentified third parties.

The innate problem with a truce with Hamas revolves around whether Hamas would actually live up to any agreement. Most people seem to have forgotten that a truce was already reached at the end of November 2006. In exchange for a full IDF pull-out of the Gaza Strip (ending Operation Summer Rains which was launched after the attack on an IDF base in Israel and the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Hamas) the rocket fire on Israeli cities would end.

Less than 48 hours after the pull-out/truce, kassams were once again landing in Sderot. I can hear what the Palestinian Apologistas are probably saying. The truce was with Fatah and Hamas are much more trustworthy than those Fatah rogues. Well, that may be so, but then again, there is this report which suggests Hamas leader Haniyeh was more than ready to kidnap a few more Israeli soldiers less than 48 hours after the truce was agreed upon.

Hardly hudna-like talk. By Day 23 of the Ceasefire with Israel over 40 rockets had been launched against Israeli cities. It was only on Day 30 of the truce when two teenage Israeli boys were injured in a rocket attack in Sderot that the Israeli government made the decision to allow the IDF to act if it observed a rocket launch was imminent from the Gaza Strip.

Until that moment the Olmert government was fully prepared to let the Gaza Strip truce stand unanswered - despite 61 Palestinian violations. Frankly, I am not sure the Israeli civilians can afford too many more ceasefires. I am almost at the point of believing a nuke would be set off in Tel Aviv within 24 hours of a ‘final’ peace agreement being signed by the Palestinians.

It is long past the time for the leaders of Hamastan to wipe the crocodile tears off their faces, put on the big boy briefs, and live up to what was already agreed too. Maybe then, their word would have some rational or objective significance.