military sources report that Israeli government leaders have misread the motives behind Hamas’two-week missile-rocket-mortar assault on Israel as jockeying for better terms when the six-month truce comes up for renewal next month. Their decision to mute Israel’s military response to the ongoing violence stems from their misplaced expectation that the attacks will stop once the truce is in the bag.

Israeli intelligence circles challenge this perception. They estimate that Hamas will continue escalating the violence at least up until Israel’s general election on Feb. 10, 2009, forcing more than a quarter of a million suffering citizens to live on a never-ending knife edge.

The Hamas rationale falls into three parts:

1. The 25-kilometer range Grad multiple-launch rockets, which the radical terrorists have vowed to continue firing against the Mediterranean port-town of Ashkelon, will also be directed further north to Ashdod, Israel’s most important port after Haifa. This will keep Hamas at center stage of Israel’s election campaign and demonstrate who really influences the Israeli voter. This maneuver, learned from the Palestinian master terrorist, who used to step up the violence before Israeli elections, will put rival Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, whose “peace talks” with Israel came to naught, in the shade.

2. Hamas is not scared by the prospect of the Olmert government being driven to a major military operation in Gaza. Its leaders calculate that it will be so costly in casualties for the Palestinian population and Israeli troops alike that an international outcry will force the IDF to cut the campaign short without achieving its goals.

3. Forcing the Israeli army to withdraw without a victory will enhance Hamas’ standing in Gaza and the West Bank – just like Hizballah after the 2006 Lebanon war.

In Hamas’ view, the compromise proposals put forward by Egyptian intelligence minister Omar Suleiman in his bid to broker a Palestinian power-sharing deal was biased in favor of Abbas and his Fatah. This left the Hamas free to walk away and instead build up its violent assaults on Israeli towns and villages.

Despite the ongoing missile attacks, Israel decided Sunday, Nov. 17, to allow 30 trucks of humanitarian aid through to Gaza. However, fuel consignments have been stopped until further notice.

Transportation minister suggests return of ‘targeted killing’ method used during his terms as IDF chief of staff, defense minister

Roni Sofer

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said Sunday that Israel must “stop talking and launch a personal targeted killing policy, against the Hamas government” following the renewed rocket attacks on Gaza vicinity communities and the city of Ashkelon. 

“We must form a plan and bring it to the cabinet’s approval immediately,” he told Ynet.ollowing a weekend of rocket attacks, two Qassam explodednear a kibbutz in the Eshkol Regional Council on Sunday morning. There were no injuries. In response, the Israel Air Force attacked a rocket lancing cell, killing four gunmen and injuring at least six. 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, “We are not eager to fight, but we do not fear a battle. In any event, we shall not tolerate the price tag the terror organizations are attempting to set.” 
When Mofaz served as IDF chief of staff and defense minister, the Israeli army made a lot of use of the “targeted killing” method against senior terror activists during the second intifada, in the West Bank as well. On Sunday, he slammed the Israeli leadership and demanded change. 
“There is not right way to deal with the issue of a Hamas government in Gaza. There is need for an urgent cabinet meeting to determine our policy against the Hamas government. The current reality is that Israeli deterrence is wearing out.”
Mofaz explained, “It turns out that Israel’s policy – cutting the supply of goods, electricity and water, is failing to yield the desired results. Moreover, it appears that we are the ones acting like the ones interested in a truce, not Hamas. This approach and policy is wrong. 
“I don’t support reoccupying Gaza at the current period of time, but we must operate and deal with the Hamas leaders. Are they allowed to violate (the truce) while we are not allowed to defend our citizens against kidnappings and injuries? 
“And when we do operate, we get a wave of Grad missiles on Ashkelon and Qassam rockets and mortar shells in response.” 

According to the minister, “We must take a targeted killing policy against the Hamas leadership. It must be part of our overall policy, which should determine concrete actions against all the terror organizations. 
“We must convene immediately, form a policy and bring it to the cabinet’s approval as soon as possible,” Mofaz said

Israel will not fight back after 11 Palestinian missiles, 6 Grad rockets injure 23 civilians

Prime minister Ehud Olmert, defense minister Ehud Barak and chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi decided at a special conference Friday evening, Nov. 14 to refrain from responding to the Palestinians’ 10-day missile blitz from Gaza. The ministers met after 6 Grad rockets hit Ashkelon and 11 missiles battered Sderot during the day. One of the 23 casualties was an 82-year old woman wounded by flying shrapnel in Sderot; the rest shock victims.

The assault damaged homes and parked vehicles, forcing tens of thousands of inhabitants in the towns and villages around the Gaza Strip to spend hours in shelters or under cover. Fifteen kilometers from Gaza, Ashkelon town hall opened the public bomb shelters, while the city of Ashdod to the north ordered the shelters prepared.

In the morning, an Israeli air strike hit one of the missiles teams in northern Gaza, injuring four Palestinians, but the missile assault continued regardless.

Thursday night, the Palestinians fired five missiles, including two Grad rockets, against Ashkelon, Sderot, Netivot and Or Haner.

Cabinet ministers and oppositions lawmakers alike call for comprehensive military action to halt the blitz which is again disrupting the lives of almost half a million distressed citizens.

Pinchas Amar asks President-Elect to keep his promise from July to protect town residents from rocket fire. In Ashkelon, school canceled and police ask residents not to hold a protest because of safety concerns

A few months ago, US President-Elect Barack Obama stood in the Sderot home of Pinchas Amar and promised an end to rocket fire. Friday, after one of the Qassams among the repeated rocket barrages landed near his home, the resident of the beleaguered Negev town sent out an appeal to the new American leader.

“Obama promised me, in my home, in front of the media, that he wouldn’t allow the rocket fire to continue. My message to him is: Keep your promise,” said Amar, who, along with his wife, was injured in earlier rocket fire.”I was barely able to reach the secure room,” said Amar, who was recently restricted to a wheelchair after falling off a ladder. “I heard a scary blast… I hope Shabbat will be quiet.” 

Residents of a nearby kibbutz, also the victim of a rocket attack, expressed similar sentiments. “It was really scary… and the worst part is that they’ve only recently started building secure rooms here, meaning that not all of the rooms are completed or accessible,” they said. 

Meanwhile, slightly to the north, the Ashkelon school board announced that school would be canceled on Sunday. Eli Shato, the head of the school board said, “We told parents that we’re not waiting and are canceling school. There’s not a single fortified structure and I’m not willing to endanger the children.”

Also in Ashkelon, local resident Ran Yedai had attempted unsuccessfully to form a security staff during the ceasefire. Friday, he said, he had received several phone calls from other concerned citizens interested in taking part in such efforts, pursuant to the rocket attacks.

Another city resident, Ronen Alush, wanted to stage a protest against government inaction on the issue of the rocket attacks on the Negev but was asked by police to refrain from doing this, so as not to endanger residents

Palestinian sources in Gaza say Hamas purposely provoking Israel to end ceasefire and influence upcoming general elections. ‘Hamas wants right-wing gov’t to end diplomatic 

Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip said the past week’s escalation and Qassam attacks on Israel are no coincidence, and that Hamas is trying to heat things up on the southern front ahead of general elections in Israel, in hopes of leading to the election of a right-wing party.

Hamas sources denied the claims and said the shooting was a response to Israel’s violation of the ceasefire.

Palestinian sources told Ynet that Hamas was looking for a way to end the diplomatic process. “Hamas wants Netanyahu,” one source said.”They know his election will put an end to the diplomatic process. With right-wing leadership, the chance of military clashes grows, and Hamas functions best in such a situation, and support for the group grows, while support for those who seek negotiations weakens.”

The source warned that “if there is no Egyptian intervention and renewed examination of the ceasefire in its current form that will lead to the opening of the crossings, Hamas will continue its policy that will lead to the ultimate collapse of the truce.”

Hamas’ military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam claimed responsibility for eight of the 10 rockets that were fired on Israel Friday. Salah al-Din Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees’ military wing claimed responsibility for the other two.

The Hamas-affiliated organization said the attack was in response to Israel’s violation of the ceasefire.

Hamas spokesmen on Friday called for a response to “Israel’s crimes” and said the ceasefire has begun “the countdown to its end”.