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The History of the 2008-2009 Current Conflict between Israel/Palestine as Reported by…
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Palestinian posts Hamas flag in rubbage by Israeli bombing!
On December 13, 2008, Israel announced that it was in favor of extending the cease-fire, provided Hamas adhered to its conditions. Having previously asserted that an end to the truce would carry huge popular support and that there are daily Israeli attacks, on December 20th, Hamas officially announced that they would not be extending the cease-fire. Citing Israeli border closures as the primary reason, Hamas then resumed its shelling of the western Negev. Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza. Israel said it initially began easing the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfill the agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling.
The New York Times summed up the situation leading to the complete breakdown of the cease-fire and the dramatic increase in hostilities thusly:
Opening the routes to commerce was Hamas’s main goal in its cease-fire with Israel, just as ending the rocket fire was Israel’s central aim. But while rocket fire did go down drastically in the fall to 15 to 20 a month from hundreds a month, Israel said it would not permit trade to begin again because the rocket fire had not completely stopped and because Hamas continued to smuggle weapons from Egypt through desert tunnels. Hamas said this was a violation of the agreement, a sign of Israel’s real intentions and cause for further rocket fire. On Wednesday [12/24/08], some 70 rockets hit Israel over 24 hours, in a distinct increase in intensity.
On December 23, 2008, the IDF killed three Palestinian militants who were planting explosives on the Gaza border. Israel was also reluctant to open the border crossings, which had been closed since November. On December 24th, the Negev was hit by more than 60 mortar shells and Katyusha and Qassam rockets, and the IDF was given a green light to operate.
On December 26th, 2008, Israel reopened five crossings between Israel and Gaza for humanitarian supplies. Fuel was allowed in for Gaza’s main power plant and about 100 trucks loaded with grain, humanitarian aid and other goods were expected during the day. Israel also reopened border crossings and announced that it would continue deliberations on what course of action to take on December 28. Rocket attacks continued — about a dozen rockets and mortar bombs were fired from Gaza into Israel, one accidentally striking a northern Gaza house and killing two Palestinian sisters, aged five and 13, while wounding a third. According to Israeli defense officials, the subsequent Israeli offensive was designed to take Hamas by surprise, thereby increasing their casualties.
Candidates for Israeli Prime Minsiter:
Tzipi Livini-Current Acting-Prime Minister and Foreign Minister; Kadima Party Leader
Ehud Barak-Fomer Israeli Prime Minister (10th, 1999-2001); Current Labor Party Leader
Benjamin Netanyahu-Former Prime Minister (9th, 1996-1999); Current Likud Party Leader
Israeli Prime Minister Elections - February 10, 2009
For more info: Do research on their past(s), present positions and where they stand during the current conflict, http://en.wikipedia.org
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