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Israel Weighs Truce Backed by Ground Threat

Barak favors ultimatum

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 30, 2008 10:31 AM CST
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(AP) – Israel is considering halting its Gaza offensive temporarily to give Hamas militants an opening to halt rocket fire, an Israeli defense official said today, but with the threat of a ground offensive if a ceasefire does not hold. Ehud Barak will raise the proposal during a meeting tomorrow of Israel's security Cabinet, which will also be asked to consider various plans for a ground invasion, the defense official said.

Palestinian militants, meanwhile, kept up their rocket assaults on Israeli border communities, despite relentless Israeli air attacks. Israel has never found a military solution to the barrages, and beyond delivering Hamas a deep blow and protecting border communities, the assault's broader objectives remained cloudy. Israeli warplanes smashed a Hamas government complex today, the largest one hit so far, along with security installations and the home of a top militant commander.

In this photo released by Israel's Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,center, listens to Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant head of the southern command, as Defense Minister Ehud Barak, right, looks on during a visit to an air force base in southern Israel, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
In this photo released by Israel's Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,center, listens to Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant head of the southern command, as Defense Minister Ehud Barak, right,...   (AP Photo/GPO,Moshe Milner,HO)
A Palestinian youth rides a bicycle past a building hit in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City,Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
A Palestinian youth rides a bicycle past a building hit in an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City,Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Israeli soldiers stand atop tanks at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
Israeli soldiers stand atop tanks at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Israeli soldiers clean the barrel of a tank at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
Israeli soldiers clean the barrel of a tank at a staging area near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak talks to the press before a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak talks to the press before a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill, Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Shannonals
Dec 30, 2008 10:13 PM CST
Quite bold when you tell somone you will back off so they can cut their own throats
Newser001
Dec 29, 2008 11:56 PM CST
The ' ?????? ??????? ??????????' was Arabic for PNA. Newser does not recognize the script. The Arabic script evolved from the Nabataean Aramaic script. It has been used since the 4th century AD, but the earliest document, an inscription in Arabic, Syriac and Greek, dates from 512 AD. The Aramaic language has fewer consonants than Arabic, so during the 7th century new Arabic letters were created by adding dots to existing letters in order to avoid ambiguities. Further diacritics indicating short vowels were introduced, but are only generally used to ensure the Qur'an was read aloud without mistakes. There are two main types of written Arabic: Classical Arabic - the language of the Qur'an and classical literature. It differs from Modern Standard Arabic mainly in style and vocabulary, some of which is archaic. All Muslims are expected to recite the Qur'an in the original language, however many rely on translations in order to understand the text. Modern Standard Arabic - the universal language of the Arabic-speaking world which is understood by all Arabic speakers. It is the language of the vast majority of written material and of formal TV shows, lectures, etc. Each Arabic speaking country or region also has its own variety of colloquial spoken Arabic. These colloquial varieties of Arabic appear in written form in some poetry, cartoons and comics, plays and personal letters. There are also translations of the bible into most varieties of colloquial Arabic. Arabic has also been written with the Hebrew, Syriac and Latin scripts.
Newser001
Dec 29, 2008 11:47 PM CST
Hamas, you'd better seriously consider this proposal by Israel, and abide by it. Not all Palestinian's embrace your suicidal, Armageddon visions... Many believe they CAN coexist with Israel, as well as Israeli's who believe they can coexist with Palestinians. You have forced those in Gaza to accept YOUR terms, or nothing at all. That isn't democracy. I propose you ask the people of Gaza to vote; then you'll be able to assess your constituent base. Otherwise, the alternative - a full out invasion of Gaza, and you'll be exactly back to square one - a loose - loose situation for you and your people. Palestinian National Authority (PNA), ?????? ??????? ?????????? is the ONLY recognized government of the Palestinian people , NOT Hamas. Wake up and live. Israel has the absolute right to exist AND defend itself. Border crossing were frozen as a passive means of dealing with the missile attacks. Is it any wonder you are experiencing the wrath and awe of Israel's might? What are you going to do, push your sick theological interpretation upon your people and make them human bombs, killing even more innocent people? Nothing awaits a person who kills innocent people. Nothing awaits a person who blows themselves up, AND Nothing awaits a person who encourages and entices people to do such things. Absolutely nothing! No virgins, nada. How can you honestly believe, Allah will embrace you? Clearly, if anything, he'd reject you, sending you to hell for all eternity. Stop reading between the Koran's lines, and fabricating your own theocratical vision of life and death.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Israel • Gaza • Palestine • Hamas • rocket attacks • Ehud Barak • Israel and Palestinians • ceasefire

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