Those Peaceful Palis Are At It Again

[Annie]

They've been used in the area before:

http://216.109.117.135/search/cache...ft+missiles+janes&d=78D527E330&icp=1&.intl=us

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050327/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_13

Palestinians Accused of Arms Smuggling

Sun Mar 27,10:18 AM ET Middle East - AP

By JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM - Israel's defense minister said Sunday that Palestinian security agents recently smuggled anti-aircraft missiles into the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) from Egypt, according to officials — a development that would threaten a recent cease-fire between the two sides.

Defense Minister Shaul told a closed Cabinet meeting that Palestinian intelligence agents were involved in bringing the Strella missiles into Gaza through smuggling tunnels under the Egyptian border, participants in the meeting said.

"Last week, several Strellas were smuggled in by Palestinian military intelligence. If the Palestinians don't get a hold of the Strellas, we will," Mofaz was quoted as saying.

Israel Radio quoted Mofaz as saying the presence of the missiles in Palestinian hands would cross a red line.

Mofaz has cautioned the Palestinians in the past against trying to acquire the shoulder-fired missiles, warning it would "upset the military balance" in Gaza. During more than four years of fighting, Israeli helicopters carried out dozens of airstrikes on militant targets in Gaza.

Israel allowed Palestinian security to resume patrolling in Gaza in January, and Palestinian forces have claimed to have discovered or sealed several smuggling tunnels.

Palestinian officials denied Mofaz's accusations, saying he was trying to divert attention from Israeli violations of the Feb. 8 cease-fire agreement.

"Mofaz and the Israeli government are trying to hide the truth by sending this statement to the public," a senior Palestinian security official said on condition of anonymity.

The truce, declared by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, has severely curtailed the violence, although tensions remain.

The Palestinians have grown impatient with Israeli delays in turning over five West Bank towns to Palestinian security control. Israel agreed to the handover as part of the truce but has only turned over control of two towns so far.

Israel has said Palestinian security forces are not doing enough to control militants in the areas that have been handed over.

The Palestinians also are upset about Israel plans to expand Maaleh Adumim, a major West Bank settlement outside Jerusalem.

The planned construction would link the settlement to Jerusalem, separating Arab neighborhoods of the city from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinians claim all the West Bank as part of a future independent state, with east Jerusalem as their capital.

The U.S-backed "road map" peace plan calls on Israel to freeze all settlement construction in the West Bank. But Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told his Cabinet on Sunday that Washington supported Israel's retention of West Bank settlement blocs as part of a final Mideast settlement but opposes continued settlement building at this time.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said in an interview Friday that the expansion of the settlement is "at odds with American policy." However, U.S. officials have reaffirmed Washington's support for Israel to retain some West Bank settlements under a final peace deal.

In veiled criticism of the United States, Abbas said it is unacceptable to support Israeli annexation of West Bank settlement blocs under a final peace settlement.

"Any talk of settlements that is not a discussion of stopping them is unacceptable," Abbas said after a meeting of his ruling Fatah (news - web sites) party in Gaza. "Here I'm talking about the discussions of annexing settlement blocs. This is unacceptable because this affects final status issues."

Elsewhere in Gaza, a lead of Hamas accused Israel of violating the cease-fire agreement, hinted the militant group is using the current calm to rearm itself and warned that tensions over Jerusalem could quickly spill over into violence.

Hamas, which is expected to win a large share of seats in Palestinian parliamentary elections in July, also will oppose any peace agreement with Israel, said Mahmoud Zahar, one of the group's top figures in Gaza. The group opposes the existence of Israel and has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks.

"What Israel is doing in Jerusalem is a great violation for the calm that was declared by the Palestinian factions," Zahar said, referring to the Maaleh Adumim expansion.

Hamas was among 13 militant groups that agreed earlier this month to honor the truce. In his statement, Zahar did not threaten any immediate violence but said his group would strike hard if Jewish extremists follow through on a pledge to storm a disputed holy site in Jerusalem.

Jewish extremists have said they would like to force their way into the site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, in an attempt to sabotage Israel's planned withdrawal this summer from Gaza and part of the West Bank.

Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon, has accused militants of using the cease-fire to rebuild their arsenals after more than four years of fighting with Israel.

 

[dilloduck]

They've been used in the area before:

http://216.109.117.135/search/cache...ft+missiles+janes&d=78D527E330&icp=1&.intl=us

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050327/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians_13

ya ya and Israel has started new settlements on te West Bank. Nothing has changed

 

[theim]

does it bother anyon besides me that policians talk about a "Palestinian state" in a manner that seems like its their God-given right to have one?

The leaders of the PLO are either terrorists or terrorist sympathizers. What lesson will this teach? Just kill enough people, blow up enough busses, assassinate enough leaders, and you get your own country?

 

[Annie]

does it bother anyon besides me that policians talk about a "Palestinian state" in a manner that seems like its their God-given right to have one?

The leaders of the PLO are either terrorists or terrorist sympathizers. What lesson will this teach? Just kill enough people, blow up enough busses, assassinate enough leaders, and you get your own country?

Not people deserving a state, I notice none of the Arab states want them either.