Vital Perspective

Palestinian Authority Deploys 13,000 to Gaza Border; Meshaal Backpedals

MediaLine reports that the truce between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza continues to hold after its first day, despite being tested by Qassam rocket fire. The Palestinian Authority deployed 13,000 security troops in order to prevent terrorist groups from firing the homemade weapons in an effort to upset the nascent peace initiative.

Talk has already begun concerning extending the cease-fire into the West Bank even as senior Israeli army officers are vigorously arguing that the respite is giving Hamas time to rearm, particularly by smuggling weapons through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has backed away from his threat to begin "the third Intifada" if there is no Palestinian state within six months. He made his initial comments in Cairo on Saturday, but on Sunday, he told a program on state-controlled television that eight months to a year was acceptable, too. He said, "The most important thing is that the Palestinian people will not giveup their rights. They will not surrender and will carry on their struggle."

Two Tons of Explosives, Automatic Weapons and RPGs Seized in Northern Sinai

Security sources say that more than two tons of explosives have been uncovered in the Gebel Maghara area of Egypt's northern Sinai peninsula and are reportedly the same type used in previous Sinai bombings. Large amounts of weapons were also found, including automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, in the Gebel Libni area 62 miles southwest of Gaza.

The Sinai with its popular beach destinations has been hit by a series of deadly attacks in recent years. Twenty people were killed and 90 wounded in a triple attack on the resort town of Dahab last April, and 34 people were killed in attacks on Taba in October 2004. Nearly 70 people were killed by attacks on the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh in July 2005.

IDF Kills Hamas Terrorist Involved in Rocket Launchings, '04 Murder of Soldier

In an operation by Israeli security forces yesterday, the IDF carried out an aerial attack in Gaza City, targeting the vehicle of Abed Al-Khader Ahmed Farej Habib. Habib, 27, was killed in the attack.

Habib was part of the Hamas rocket production division and was involved in intensive rocket fire at Israel in recent months. In addition, Habib took part in activities against IDF forces which included projectile rocket-fire, explosives placement, shooting attacks and intelligence gathering activities.

Habib was responsible for the killing of IDF soldier Sgt. First Class Nadav Kodinsky and the wounding of four more soldiers in a bomb attack near the Karni crossing on December 7, 2004. In the attack, a group of gunmen ambushed an IDF force and detonated an explosive device against the soldiers. A tunnel shaft, apparently used by the gunmen, was later uncovered at the scene.

Interview with High Schooler Illustrates Life Under Threat of Rocket Attacks

It's a rare occassion that Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israeli towns gets any attention in the mainstream media, which is absurd because the Qassam's are truly terrifying. On Thursday, IBA Reshet Bet Radio broadcasted an interview with 16-year-old Kama Ben-Lulu, an Israeli high school student from Sderot who lives under the threat of the Qassam rocket attacks from Gaza. It's a great interview that offers a look inside the life of a teenager that should be off enjoying life, but is instead wracked with fear of rockets plunging into her classroom.

Q: We are turning to the student Kama Ben-Lulu. Good morning to you, Kama.

KAMA BEN-LULU: Good morning.

Q: Kama, do you know whether you are going to school this morning or not? What are your plans, if I may be allowed to ask you?

MS. BEN-LULU: I know that I am not going to school today.

Q: Why?

MS. BEN-LULU: It goes like this. If I go to school, I know that my classroom is not protected. If I sit in school and suddenly hear 'Red Dawn' (the early warning system which preceeds a rocket attack by 15-20 seconds), I have nowhere to go.

Our place is not protected. Even -- hear the 'Red Dawn', go out to a kind of area which is more or less protected, and then everyone phones their families, terrified and everything. There is no regular order of studying, which is routine, do you understand?

I mean, we come, arrive at school, there is some kind of a tumult following the 'Red Dawn'. We worry about our families. We stop concentrating. There are no regular studies.

Do you understand? So --

Q: -- yes, I certainly understand. It is difficult to understand, but what do your friends say? What do you schoolmates say? How will they behave, as far as you know, Kama?

MS. BEN-LULU: As I know, some of them want to go (to school), since they want to continue their routine, and some do not. Some can't sit. Some faint each time they hear the 'Red Dawn'. Some really cry. Most of them do not go to school.

Update on IDF Counterterror Operations Against Terror Infrastructure in Gaza

Following the continuous firing of Qassam rockets at Israel from Gaza, the IDF carried out a number of aerial attacks in Gaza last night, targeting three Hamas weapons storage facilities in Jabaliya, Rafah and Beit Lahiya. Prior to the attack on these terror facilities, and in order to ensure the safety of civilians in the area, the IDF warned the population not to stay in structures that are used by terrorist organizations for storing weaponry. Additionally, the IDF targeted an Islamic Jihad weapons production facility in Khan Yunis.

Update on IDF Counterterror Operations Against Terror Infrastructure in Gaza

Following the continuous Qassam rocket attacks at Israel from Gaza, the IDF carried out a number of aerial attacks last night against the terror infrastructure. The attacks were:

• A structure used by the PRC to store weaponry in Gaza City.
• A structure used by Hamas to store weaponry in Jebaliya.
• A structure used by Hamas as a gathering center and headquarters from which terrorist activity against Israeli civilians was planned and directed.
• A structure used by Islamic Jihad to store weaponry in Rafah.
• A structure used by Islamic Jihad to store weaponry in Jebaliya.

19 rockets hit southern Israel yesterday, killing an Israeli woman and seriously injuring two more civilians, one of them 17 years old, in Sderot. Damage was also caused to civilian infrastructure in the city of Ashkelon.

IDF Releases Details of Large Suicide Bombing Attempt Thwarted by Police

On July 17, suicide bomber Ashref Haled Hassin Hanani was arrested in Jerusalem by the Israeli Police. Hanani was wearing an explosive belt and was on his way to carry out a suicide bombing in the city.

During questioning, he revealed details of a terror cell which had recruited him a month and a half earlier to carry out the attack. The cell, located east of Nablus, was guided by the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza and began operating three months earlier in order to dispatch bombers into Israel. For this purpose they received two high quality explosive belts made in Gaza. A lab examination showed that the belts were constructed using high-grade explosives which would have had a devastating effect if used.

Hanani arrived in the Ramallah on July 16, bypassing security checkpoints on the way. In Ramallah he was given money, an explosive belt and operating instructions. On July 17, Hanani entered Jerusalem through an area in which the security fence has not yet been constructed and was arrested after two policemen spotted him behaving in a suspicious manner.

Hanani gave investigators details on members of the cell:

• Mahmud Ahmad Mahmud Hanani, 38, a resident of Beit Furik in the West Bank and head of the terror cell. He was responsible for contact with the PRC terror organization in Gaza and received instructions from them. He was also involved in recruiting the suicide bomber. Mahmud escaped to Jordan on July 17.
• Nimar Tzudaki Nimar Hanani, 43, also a resident of Beit Furik. Nimar established the initial connection between the cell and the PRC. He was also involved in recruiting the suicide bomber, in transferring the explosive belt to him and in dispatching him to the attack. He was arrested on July 18.
• Imad Faiz Khader Haj Mahmad, 45, of Ramallah. Mahamad had the explosive belt in his care until it was handed over to the bomber. The bomber was filmed in Mahmad's house before he left for Jerusalem. He was also arrested on July 18.
• Ibrahim Mahmad Sha'aban Ibrahim Alhandi, 26, also of Ramallah. Alhandi worked in the Palestinian National Security apparatus in Ramallah and was arrested on July 26. He stated in his questioning that he was recruited into the PRC in 2001 and was smuggled into Israel for a suicide bombing which was called off. He was later arrested by the Palestinian security apparatuses in Tulkarm and was jailed in Beitunia. However, when the IDF entered the town he was released and has been wanted by Israeli security forces since. In 2006, he received two high quality explosive belts from members of the PRC. One he gave to Ashraf Hanani and the other he hid in the Palestinian National Security headquarters.

Egyptian Security: Hamas MP's Used Rafah to Smuggle $4 Million in Suitcases

Yesterday, two Palestinian lawmakers from Hamas crossed the Egyptian border into Gaza on with more than $4 million in cash, bypassing a Western ban on bank transfers to the Palestinian Authority, Egyptian security sources said. Mushir al-Masri and Ahmad Bahar were allowed to use the Rafah crossing with the money in suitcases.

Egyptian authorities had stopped Masri when he tried to cross the border with $2 million on Tuesday, saying he should "wait for coordination." Border officials quoted Masri as saying on Tuesday he had collected the money during a trip to Saudi Arabia. Hamas officials have successfully brought cash across the Egyptian border into Gaza previously. In June, FM Mahmoud al-Zahar brought $20 million across the border stuffed in 12 suitcases.

Battle Over Qassam Rockets Examined as Defense Minister's Home Nearly Hit

Earlier today, a Qassam rocket fired by Palestinian terrorists slammed into a residential area of the western Negev town of Sderot, close to Defense Minister Amir Peretz' home. One woman was killed and one of Peretz' bodyguards was seriously injured. The attack was claimed by both Islamic Jihad and Hamas. In light of the attack, MediaLine examines the ongoing confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians in regard to Qassam rocket attacks from Gaza:

Following continual rocket attacks by Palestinians in Gaza, the IDF launched a seven-day military operation, Operation Autumn Clouds, on November 1, during which one Israeli soldier and more than 50 Palestinians were killed. The incursion focused on Beit Hanoun, a small town in the north of Gaza between the Erez border crossing and Gaza City. The aim of the operation was to damage the military infrastructure, which included weapons depots, stockpiles of ammunition and tunnels for the smuggling of arms. It was also launched to stop attacks on the Erez border crossing and the continual firing of Qassam rockets into Israel.

The incursion, however, failed to stop the firing of Qassams. During the operation, up to 50 Qassams were fired towards the Negev and the Israeli towns of Sderot and Ashqelon. A fresh barrage of rockets landed in Israel following the withdrawal of Israeli troops last Tuesday.

Many Gaza residents and politicians refuse to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, to renounce violence or to honor previous agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority. "It is the religious duty of every Palestinian man, woman and child to carry out jihad against Israel. Suicide bombing is a legitimate form of defense and bin Laden and al-Zarqawi were chosen by God to protect the Muslims in the Middle East from the aggression of America and Israel," Gaza mufti Muhammad Sheikh said in Gaza City.

The incursion into Beit Hanoun was the fiercest Israeli military operation into Gaza since the abduction of Cpl. Gilad Shalit. During earlier operations Israeli tanks had remained stationed outside residential areas. This time the tanks rolled right into the town's streets as soldiers carried out house to house operations. Armed Apache helicopters flew overhead, while an unmanned drone, armed with missiles, circled constantly. White surveillance balloons monitored the situation from above.

The sound of gunfire, exploding missiles, bursting tank shells, RPG rocket fire and wailing ambulance sirens punctuated the air as dozens of Hamas terrorists in combat fatigues, hoods, flak jackets and armed with RPG rocket launchers, Kalashnikovs, explosives and radios, gathered on street corners. They periodically launched rockets at tanks and helicopters, playing a game of cat and mouse before taking refuge when the Israeli military responded with its arsenal.

In Israel the mood was hawkish. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert told a gathering of cabinet ministers in Jerusalem, "We have declared that we will never accept the ongoing Qassam fire and that we will take any steps needed to considerably reduce the fire and prevent the terror activity."

In Gaza, the defiant mood is growing. Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh told a gathering in Gaza City that "We are people who are not afraid. We have legitimate rights. This is our homeland and our people will not fall. The Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital will be established sooner or later. The refugees will return and the prisoners will be released. The occupation is unfounded and we represent the truth. We are facing annihilation."

The futility of the continued fighting between Israelis and Palestinians, and the need to reach a negotiated settlement was reiterated by Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, who said there was no military solution to the present conflict. "The real answer is not military. The real answer is diplomatic. The real answer is for the Palestinian government to implement its own obligations under the bilateral treaties it signed with Israel and international agreements. The Palestinian government should prevent the launching of these rockets into Israel."

Understanding 5,000 Years of Imperial History in the Middle East in 90 Seconds

Here's something interesting we found over at Evangelical Outpost. Ever wondered who has controlled the Middle East over the course of history? This great animation takes you through the last 5,000 years in just 90 seconds.