Despite talk of pause, Israel gearing up for ground campaign

[Israel Insider]

Foreign and domestic news sources report that two Israeli armored divisions are poised and ready to move into Gaza. The buildup continues as additional reserve soldiers are called up in preparation for the expected ground offensive.

Debkafile reports that Israeli special forces are already conducting raids inside the strip, complementing the extensive air activity, which today focused on destroying the scores of smuggling tunnels under the "Philadelphi route" along the Gaza-Egypt border. Intensive bombing of rocket-related activities continued today in Khan Yunis, Gaza City and the Bureij neighborhood in central Gaza.

Even as the IDF is ready to thrust in quantity into Gaza, a number of diplomatic initiatives have sprouted up in attempt to thwart the Israeli campaign and give Hamas forces a chance to take a breather. One initiative, reportedly of French vintage, calls for a two-day break to evaluate whether Hamas can restrain the firing of missiles. The Turkish prime minister has begun a Mideast tour in apparent hopes of resurrecting a ceasefire.

But the consensus of analysis in Israel holds that a ground incursion is inevitable, and essential, to consolidate and exploit Israeli gains in the first few days of the operation.

At the very least, Israel is likely to move into the Philadelphi route to complete the destruction of tunnels, and perhaps create a wider buffer zone, free of houses or other structures, that will make it more difficult to create tunnels in the future. The IDF is likely to move into the areas in northern Gaza that have been used as primary launch pads for rocket, mortar and missile attacks into Israel.

There is a growing perception that Israel aims at nothing less than to topple the Hamas regime and, after extensive cleanup of the area to remove weapons and rocket-firing terrorists, will aim to reinstate Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza.

There are indications that Egypt and Jordan, both of which fear the Iran-backed Islamic terror proxies, may be on board for that strategy. Egypt is refusing to open up the Rafiah crossing, and says it will only do so for the legitimate Palestinian Authority.

[JRip]

Mainstream press interviews are pathetic in their attempt to project the idea that they want peace. They never interview Hamas leaders and harrass them about firing never-ending rockets into Israel or ask them when they are going to stop their offensive. It's time for a ground invasion that will take over territory and not give it back until true and lasting peace has been achieved for a minimum of 50 years.

[Robert Bernier]

Making the I.D.F. a credible deterrent once again is a national imperative.
When Israel will integrate its Jewish identity into its national life, it will easily define its enemies, all its enemies, and will restore the spirit of the I.D.F and its deterrence. Until and unless we can have confidence in the IDF once again, real independence cannot be much more than a slogan. Independence is not created by poses and declarations, but by military power, economic prowess and national determination. Independence is also a function of the realities of international geopolitics. Some details about the I. D. F . at :
http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/09/israel-united-states-military-relations.html

[Sharbano]

"Instead of opening up then with a limited incursion that would evolve into a broad ground operation, Israeli leaders wasted precious time in futile discussions on international demands for a ceasefire, which had no chance of holding up. Defense minister Ehud Barak, instead of running the war, spent hours on the phone with French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, before he, prime minister Ehud Olmert and foreign minister Tzipi Livni, finally agreed that the French 48-hour truce proposal was unrealistic. Now, Israeli tanks and armored forces will have to wait for the weather to clear while watching Hamas broaden its swathe of attacks."

As Debka is reporting this I wonder if the leadership has truly learned Anything from the Lebanon fiasco. The Air Force suspects NOW that only 10-15 percent of missiles have been destroyed. Hamas is also suspected of having rockets with a 50-55km range. And these leaders spend hours talking to the French cowards and waste time in debating a cease-fire when they should be much more concerned with the battle that is on going. It leaves a person to wonder if this entire operation is nothing more than an attempt to secure victory in the elections. I can't help but be pessimisstic with this group.

[Tal]

I pray to Hashem that this time the Israeli Goverment has enough resolve to let our soldiers finish the job, not just against Hamas but against all of our enemies! Move forward in triumph Israel Hashem is with you!

[MBJ]

The Arabs aren't about to quit. They have proven that throughout the centuries of thier violent behavior towards Israel. I doubt that many countries will side with Israel in the near future. The gentile nations seem to speak against those Hama$ but don't seem to think that Israel has the right to defend its people or land. They act like Israel should give up all it has worked to gain and build. But those who go against Israel by verbal, phisical, or deceptive means will pay the price in the end.
Most of the nations talk about peace in the middle east but I don't think any know what the Mu$lims consider to be the deffinition of peace. This has caused many problems for the Jewish people in the past and will thus continue into the future unless people learn the Mu$lim culture. It is one of violence if you look at the roots of thier beliefe and they most honorable way to get to heaven in thier perspective, which is by martyrdom. This alone shows that I$lam isn't a religion of peace.
I hope and prey the Jewish people return to Hashem, blessed be he, and follow Torah so Moshiach will come with no bloodshed.

[Sharbano]

When a person reads the numerous reports of leaders of different countries and an almost obsession with a "ceasefire" it's as if there is utter fear that Israel may Actually WIN this. There wasn't a Single instance in recent days of the barrage of missiles that Hamas has sent to Israel that a leader spoke UP against it. NOW, that Israel is taking an Initiative G-d forbid they should Defend the People and the Land. These leaders are most certainly fully integrated in Eurabia.