Israel Plans more Gaza Strikes

It seems that any strikes that Israel makes are just retaliatory or routine or anything but violations of the ceasefire. No move to open the borders yet either it would seem. No word of criticism from the west.




Israel Plans More Gaza Strikes
Hamas Avoids Retaliation, Trying to Cement Ceasefire
Posted January 30, 2009
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz cites top “decision-makers” as saying the attacks against Hamas and other groups in the Gaza Strip would continue in spite of the continuing efforts by the international community to negotiate a ceasefire. One source is quoted as saying the attacks were meant to show Hamas that strikes would not go unanswered.
But as Israel continues to ratchet up what it is calling retaliatory attacks, Hamas’ own response has been extremely muted. While Israel’s attacks on Hamas have caused numerous casualties (mostly civilians), Hamas hasn’t caused even property damage in Israel.
Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who Israel threatened to assassinate earlier in the week, says Hamas’ main aim at this point is reconciliation. Israeli officials also say they believe Hamas is holding back retaliation from the Israeli attacks because it wants to complete a cease-fire agreement. No one could accuse Israel of doing the same thing.

US foils Draft UN resolution to stop Gaza Attacks

This is from antiwar.com.

The Libyan resolution demanded compliance by both sides so at least it would require that Hamas cease firing rockets into Israel which is what Israel claims is the basic issue and what needs to be stopped. It is clear that Israel thinks it can defeat Hamas militarily and perhaps cause regime change in Gaza. So far they have achieved nothing of the sort and it may even be that Hamas does not want a ceasefire either. Their ability to survive is probably regarded as itself a victory no matter what the cost to civilians, a kind of mirror image of the Israeli position that Hamas must be stopped even if that means engaging in activity that causes many innocents to die in fact many more than any Hamas attacks have caused Israel. The US as usual is an honest broker, on behalf of Israel!



US Foils Draft UN Resolution to Stop Gaza Attacks
Arab League-backed Resolution Slammed as "Unbalanced"
Posted January 1, 2009
As was widely expected, the United States rejected an attempt by the Arab League to push a legally-binding resolution through the United Nations Security Council calling for Israel to immediately halt its attacks on the Gaza Strip. As a permanent member of the council, the United States can veto any resolution, and has traditionally done so on Israel’s behalf.
The resolution, proposed by Libya, calls for “an immediate ceasefire and for its full respect by both sides.” It also calls on Israel to abide by its obligations under the Geneva Convention with regard to the protection of civilians in time of war. Before it was rejected by the United States it had already been considerably watered down, removing a clause calling for Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza and stop the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
But while the United States blasted the resolution as “unbalanced” and “one-sided,” it seems unclear if they would have supported any resolution calling for an end to the war at a time when Israel seems committed to keeping it going. US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad claimed the United States was working “very hard “for an immediate ceasefire, but that it didn’t believe Hamas would end its attacks. Khalilzad instead says the parties involved should agree to a ceasefire and then take it to the Security Council “if necessary.”
But while Hamas has expressed a willingness to talk about a ceasefire, Israel is virtually locked in to a policy of further escalation, insisting any ceasefire would only grant Hamas legitimacy. The United States’ “very hard” work seems to consist of little more than respecting Israel’s wishes on the matter and preventing the United Nations from doing anything that might jeopardize its war.