Gaza updates

The IDF went into northern Gaza—finally!—early Monday morning, Israel time. They’ve surrounded Beit Hanoun, source of many kassam launchings.

A small Israeli force entered northern Gaza at daybreak Monday, including tanks, armored personnel carriers and bulldozers. They took up positions around the town of Beit Hanoun.

The operation was titled “Spearhead.” The mission is meant to conduct “pinpoint” operations against Kassam launchers, uproot terror infrastructure, find tunnels, and prevent the laying of explosives along the border fence.

The small-scale operation was not as big as what the IDF had initially requested, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apparently would not give his stamp of approval only to a large-scale operation in northern Gaza.

Olmert is a moron. A small-scale operation will not do squat. The IDF will be heading back into Gaza within a year at this rate.

Three dead terrorists, two suicide belts that won’t kill Israelis, and oh yeah, they’re from Hamas. You know, the ruling party in Gaza and the terrortories[sic]. The one that pretends the political wing doesn’t know what the military wing is doing.

Ehud Olmert, let loose the hounds. Not enough of these scumbags have been killed.

Big whoop: Following the attack on an empty Hamas HQ building, the IAF attacked an empty Al-Aqsa building. Color me impressed when they target buildings filled with terrorists.

The IDF said that it intentionally chose to attack the target late at night in a bid not to risk human life, but still convey a message to Hamas leaders.

Yes, and that message is: “We’re going to destroy your empty buildings, just like Sharon did with Arafat, until you give up or die.” Gee, lotta good that did. Arafat used the damaged building to earn brownie points with the Israel Derangement Squad until the day he died.

So Olmert says this:

“These are difficult days for Israel, but we have no intention of giving in to any form of blackmailing,” Olmert said Sunday. “Everyone understands that giving in to terror today means an invitation to the next act of terrorism, and we will not act that way.”

And his security people say this:

The security establishment is prepared to release Palestinian prisoners who have not been convicted of hostile terror activity, if a deal is reached with Hamas on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit and instituting calm on the Gaza-Israel border.

The Israel Defense Forces said it would not support a deal that would release terrorists “with blood on their hands,” but only those who have not been involved in planning or carrying out terror attacks. The army would be willing to release individuals who are being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, such as Hamas ministers and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, as well as security prisoners jailed for relatively minor offenses, such as belonging to terrorist organizations.

If this happens, expect more kidnappings in the future.

However, military officials said they do not think the sides are close to reaching such a deal. Top IDF officials said the crisis over Shalit’s abduction is liable to last “days, weeks, months and even years.” As of Sunday night, the most updated information available to security officials indicated that Shalit was alive and that his captors planned to keep him healthy as long as they don’t think the army is planning a military operation to secure his release.

Oh, that’s comforting.

So, what is it, Ehud? Are you going to negotiate with terrorists, or not? Because from where I’m sitting, that looks mighty suspiciously like negotiating with terrorists.

The IDF says their best information says Cpl. Shalit is still alive. But they have no idea where he’s being held—so what makes them think the terrorists are telling the truth? Time to show Cpl. Shalit’s face.

I’m going to be sick if Israel releases prisoners in exchange for Shalit. But I’m pretty sure that’s what’s going to happen.