Gaza ground invasion may be imminent

[Americanhero1]

Israeli leaders have held a meeting to discuss a ground offensive into Gaza, as the air force continues to pound the region for a seventh day.
A government spokesman said Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed the ongoing military operation on the Gaza Strip in a meeting with top ministers.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and top military and intelligence officials attended the meeting and mulled over an order for a ground offensive into the coastal sliver, Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev said.

At least 436 Palestinians -- the natives of the land -- have been killed in the Israeli strikes on Gaza, which started on Saturday. Some 2,250 other Gazans are reportedly wounded.

Israel says it is targeting Hamas-linked compounds in the region to stop Hamas' retaliatory rocket attacks. Meanwhile, the UN says that at least 25 percent of the victims are civilians.

In retaliation for the attacks on the Palestinian land, Hamas has launched rocket attacks, hitting targets some 25 miles (40 kilometers) into Israel, killing at least 6 Israelis and wounding some 16 others.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Hamas movement would agree to stop its rocket attacks if Tel Aviv agrees to lift its 18-month blockade on Gaza.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since the Hamas movement won a majority in the 2006 Palestinian election and took control of the area in mid-June 2007.

As the death toll continues to rise on the seventh day of the air strikes, Israeli tanks and troops massed along the Gaza border are reportedly preparing for an imminent ground offensive.

"The forces are there, and they're ready for anything," said an Israeli military spokeswoman, Maj. Avital Leibovich.

Meanwhile, some say that the Israeli army may suffer exceptional casualties should it enter the beleaguered strip.

"There is no way to take Hamas out without going into Gaza. The problem is the price," Yaakov Amidror, a retired Israeli major general who headed the military's research and assessment division, was quoted by the Washington Post as saying.

"My feeling is that we should do it. All the other players in the region are wondering why we are hesitating if we are so strong," Amidror added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel's security cabinet rejected an international proposal for a 48-hour truce to allow humanitarian aid to enter the beleaguered strip, saying a cease-fire would strengthen Hamas.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=80247&sectionid=351020202

[Angry Panther]

I wonder how many hayamin.org Hebrew board members will be a part of that invasion?

May hashem bless them and keep them safe.

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

Very sad news if true. Does anyone remember the Jenin "offensive" of April 2002? It will be terrible. Eighteen-year-old conscripts will be sent into each and every Muslim Nazi house to "arrest" Hamas members, and dozens--perhaps even hundreds--will die for absolutely no reason at all. Artillery will not be used, and Merkavas will not be permitted to fire their main guns.

Then after all is said and done, the United Nazis and world media will speak of a "massacre" in Gaza, and the Israeli government will not even deny it.

Six months after this is over, Prime Minister Netanyahu or Livni will announce a "confidence-building initiative" with his "peace partners" in Hamas, and all of the terrorist Nazis arrested now will be not only released, but given full amnesty and the right to travel throughout Israel at will!

Shameful beyond words. 

[DownwithIslam]

Of course a ground invasion is unnecessary and insane. If they leveled gaza from the air and killed 100,000 muzzies, I have a feeling their would not be any rockets being fired into Israel.