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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Today's capitulations

Yesterday, 3 mortars were fired from Gaza to Israel in what I believe was the seventh violation of the "calm" from Gaza (at least six mortar/rocket attacks and one shooting.)

Unlike previous times during the "cease fire," however, Israel didn't close the crossings from Gaza today in response.

On the contrary - today Israel allowed nearly 200 Gaza businessmen to enter Israel and the West Bank, according to Palestine Press Agency.

Israel also allowed the Sufa crossing to open and is now allowing material for school uniforms to enter Gaza.

Now for a trip down memory lane.

June 21:
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev told Israel National News Saturday night, "The understandings with the Egyptians specifically state that there will be no hostile fire from any group into Israel, and there will be an end to the arms smuggling and the arms buildup.

"Anyone who says otherwise is either unfamiliar with the understandings or deliberately trying to undermine them," he said.

June 24:
"This is a blatant violation of the calm, and we will weigh options," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said after the rockets struck.


July 1:
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday warned that his country will make forceful response if Palestinian militants continue to violate the Gaza Strip ceasefire.

Israel has shown some patience with the ceasefire violations, while this should not be perceived as weakness, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth quoted him as saying at a conference.

"Should the lull not be maintained, we will respond with full force," he was quoted as saying. "Nobody will shy away from the need to retaliate harshly."

July 8:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said recently that a truce "cannot be enforced in full immediately, and therefore Israel has and will show patience; but that patience should not be misconstrued as weakness. If the ceasefire is violated, we will know how to react."

Notice a trend?