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Israel kicks off global PR campaign to recruit support for Gaza raids
By Jack Khoury and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: mahmoud zahar, idf, hamas 

Israel is kicking off a public relations campaign with the intention of widening a basis for international support of a military offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has instructed Israeli representatives abroad to begin diplomatic efforts focused on members of the United Nations Security Council and Europeans states.

The foreign minister told Israeli delegates to the UN to file an official complaint with Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and the Security Council stating that Israel would not remain apathetic to the continued firing of rockets from Gaza, adding that it will do everything necessary to protect its citizens.
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The statement was relayed Sunday night, a move that is considered highly irregular as it is the UN officials' day of rest. Livni, however, instructed delegates not to wait until Monday.

Livni is also planning a series of telephone conferences with her counterparts across the world, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Ban, and the foreign ministers of Russia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Simultaneously, Israeli envoys across the world have been instructed to stress Israel's opposition to the rocket fire and to emphasize that it was Hamas who stood in violation of the six-month cease-fire which ended on Friday.

Earlier Sunday, Livni vowed to end Hamas's rule in the Gaza Strip if she was elected prime minister in a February election.

"The state of Israel, and a government under me, will make it a strategic objective to topple the Hamas regime in Gaza," Livni told members of her centrist Kadima party. "The means for doing this should be military, economic and diplomatic."

Also Sunday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he ordered the IDF and the defense establishment to begin preparing for an offensive in Gaza, in light of the escalating rocket fire.

"Questions of place, time and method in which we will act will be approved at the professional levels," he said. It was not a matter of "who likes Hamas and who does not," he added. "We all want to see Hamas struck down."

Meanwhile, Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's government in Gaza, brushed aside Israeli threats: "Nothing can finish off our people."

Hamas official: Israel 'playing with fire' over Gaza

A leading Hamas official said on Sunday that the militant group, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since June 2007, was undeterred by Israel's threats of a major military incursion into the coastal territory.

"For three years we've been hearing about big military operations and nothing has happened," official Mahmoud Zahar told the Nazareth-based Radio A-Shams.

"Israel is playing with fire like a child going out to smoke his first cigarette, coughing and choking, and then quitting on his own," he added.

Zahar also said that Israel was "lying" in claiming that its economic blockade on Gaza was in response to continuing rocket and mortar shell fire.

"The blockade on Gaza began when Hamas won the elections," he said, blaming Israel for violating the six-month truce, which came to an end on Friday.

"The calm agreed upon under Egyptian mediation stipulated very clearly that the siege must be lifted, but even during the calm, Israel prevented the entry of basic goods into the Strip, and as far as we're concerned, that is a harsh violation," he said.

Earlier Sunday, Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin told cabinet ministers that Hamas is capable of firing rockets that can strike targets as distant from Gaza as the outskirts of the Negev capital of Be'er Sheva.

IDF girding for Gaza border escalation

Security sources had said Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces is preparing to escalate its activities at the Gaza Strip border in response to continuing Qassam rocket and mortar fire into the western Negev.

Nineteen rockets struck the western Negev on Sunday, wounding one person.

On Saturday alone 13 rockets and 20 mortar rounds were fired into Israel. No one was injured, but one rocket damaged a kibbutz building. The violence came after Hamas' official announcement that it would not extend its six-month cease-fire with Israel.

The Israel Air Force has staged a number of operations over the Strip in the past two days in an effort to weaken the rocket launchers.

An air force strike in Beit Lahia Saturday killed Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades militant Ali Hijazi, 25, while he was trying to launch rockets. Two others were wounded. Though affiliated with Fatah, the organization's branch in Gaza does not operate under the instruction of the movement's leadership in the West Bank.

Security sources on Saturday told Haaretz that a new policy would be drafted in the coming days for dealing with rocket fire from the Strip. Israel will ratchet up air force strikes, which will no longer be limited to rocket-launching cells themselves. They will also target weapons stores and workshops, as well as the heads of networks involved in rocket launching.

"We will have to take an aggressive line," a security official said. "Israel gave Hamas an opportunity to gradually pull back the rocket strikes, but it didn't respond. This level of violence, with close to 10 rockets fired a day, is unacceptable."

Israel is taking into account that a military escalation could lead militants firing the Qassams from Gaza to expand their range of targets. Sources at Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet security service believe rockets launched from the Strip can now reach Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malakhi and the suburbs of Ashdod and Be'er Sheva.

Until now, Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the majority of rockets fired into Israel, and a number of smaller militant groups have claimed the rest.

Related articles:
  • Shin Bet chief: Hamas rockets can hit outskirts of Be'er Sheva
  • Livni: As prime minister, I will topple Hamas regime in Gaza
  • Palestinians fire 14 Qassams into Israel, injuring one person
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      1.   Only the 1%ers are shaking 20:13  |  Arie 21/12/08
      2.   The demand was for TOTAL calm, Hamas liars 20:13  |  McQueen 21/12/08
      3.   The blockade began when 20:34  |  Dan 21/12/08
      4.   Checkmate for Iran! 21:44  |  Aaron 21/12/08
      5.   RE:Checkmate for Iran! 22:59  |  Mat 21/12/08
      6.   Act in haste, repent in leisure! 23:04  |  Manny Goldstein 21/12/08
      7.   BRAVO !!! FINALLY A SOUND MOVE !!! 23:20  |  Fortuna Benmayor 21/12/08
      8.   to mat 23:34  |  sammy 21/12/08
      9.   manny goldstein your are a sorry excuse 23:36  |  olmertout bibiin 21/12/08
      10.   why do we need PR? 23:42  |  bibiin olmertout 21/12/08
      11.   Go Forth and lie as usual---we are not listening anymore--Israel 23:48  |  Labhras 21/12/08
      12.   israelis are not ery smart 23:48  |  patrice cohen 21/12/08
      13.   We Don`t Need A Diplomatic Offensive 23:51  |  Eli 21/12/08
      14.   #8 Manny is not hiding behind a nom de plume 23:54  |  Labhras 21/12/08
      15.   Manny comfortable in londonstan while Sderot burns 23:54  |  Arie 21/12/08
      16.   The only PR needed right now 23:57  |  Arie 21/12/08
      17.   Should,nt you be in bed bibiin olmertout 00:00  |  Labhras 22/12/08
      18.   #9 00:03  |  jo 22/12/08
      19.   Israel needs to defend herself 00:12  |  Brod 22/12/08
      20.   Leaderless Israel 00:13  |  Marcel 22/12/08
      21.   israel is praying this will scare hamas lmao 00:15  |  eric 22/12/08
      22.   A delaying tactic. Nothing more and nothing less! 00:22  |  redbourn 22/12/08
      23.   easier and cheaper to open rafah crossing 00:24  |  duh? 22/12/08
      24.   RE:Manny Goldstein 00:27  |  Mat 22/12/08
      25.   re-occupy gaza, go ahead 00:28  |  Ghazi 22/12/08
      26.   Enough is Enough 00:39  |  HAT 22/12/08
      27.   Israel kick off global PR campaign to recruit support for Gaza .. 00:40  |  Akram Zekaria 22/12/08
      28.   #9 bibin olmertout 00:52  |  Jim 22/12/08
      29.   There`s no global support for an IDF attack on Gaza. 00:53  |  Michael 22/12/08
      30.   There should not be a need for this PR campain 00:55  |  Mark Lincoln 22/12/08
      31.   topple the Hamas regime in Gaza? 01:00  |  vik 22/12/08
      32.   Does Hamas concern itself with PR? 01:13  |  Murray of Montreal 22/12/08
      33.   Barak should consult Hezbollah first... 01:18  |  Dutch Dirk 22/12/08
      34.   good luck 01:26  |  WH 22/12/08
      35.   Zahar: THE MOUTH FROM THE SOUTH 01:32  |  JEWISH DOCTOR 22/12/08
      36.   Agressive is a mild word when it comes 01:37  |  TOMY 22/12/08
      37.   Gaza 02:07  |  Joe Kelsall 22/12/08
      38.   a military offensive against Gaza has no global support 02:20  |  Joseph.E 22/12/08
      39.   Square one 02:26  |  Baz Mann 22/12/08
      40.   To# 1 02:26  |  Refugee 22/12/08
      41.   do not send in the troops! 02:29  |  Ganghis Khan 22/12/08
      42.   Never before in history 02:41  |  Arie 22/12/08
      43.   qqqqqqqqqq 02:56  |  qqqqqqqqqq 22/12/08
      44.   Shame, shame and more shame 03:03  |  gus 22/12/08
      45.   How to Improve Israel`s Image //!\\ Cheap and Effectively //!\\ 03:55  |  Bernard Madoff $50B 22/12/08
      46.   #6.Manny, you`re right on... 03:56  |  Edithann 22/12/08
      47.   Can`t make a silken purse out of a sows ears. 04:06  |  lydia 22/12/08
      48.   finally 04:06  |  joe smith 22/12/08
      49.   #18 TOMY 04:21  |  Jim 22/12/08
      50.   #19 From one old man to another 04:27  |  Jim 22/12/08
      51.   GAZA ROCKETS 05:04  |  PATRICK RIORDAN 22/12/08
      52.   GAZA ROCKETS 05:05  |  PATRICK RIORDAN 22/12/08
      53.   Proactive not reactive PR 05:08  |  Harry 22/12/08
      54.   Vik #13 05:17  |  George Kaplan 22/12/08
      55.   #9 05:35  |  jjvanka 22/12/08
      56.   Road to nowhere 05:44  |  Colin Wright 22/12/08
      57.   Another excuse for inaction 06:01  |  Moshe 22/12/08
      58.   #8 Olmertout - denial is not policy! 06:03  |  Manny Goldstein 22/12/08
      59.   Bowing to the nations 06:11  |  Moshe 22/12/08
      60.   support 06:26  |  colin 22/12/08
      61.   PR won`t change anything 06:57  |  Jon Jaye 22/12/08
      62.   # 7 Fortuna Benmayor - Don`t believe it from Livni........ 07:26  |  Natasha 22/12/08
      63.   Do not waste Time on `Global Support` 07:39  |  Dagma 22/12/08
      64.   Au contraire Murray of Montreal... 07:47  |  BBSNews 22/12/08
      65.   Good luck brave Israel 07:51  |  JANE 22/12/08
      66.   Operating against terrorists. 08:04  |  Jean Van Daem 22/12/08
      67.   Plenty of support for a Gaza offensive 08:10  |  Peter Williams 22/12/08
      68.   Livni wont go overseas `cause she is more concerned with her ... 08:11  |  Kobi 22/12/08
      69.   What an ARAB JOKE! to destroy Israel Peacefully 08:15  |  Natasha 22/12/08
      70.   Gaza Attack 08:35  |  Avinash 22/12/08
      71.   Lincoln`s mouth opens, idiocy spills out again 08:45  |  SDHD 22/12/08
      72.   The world knows what is happening but will never support Israel 09:00  |  Beni 22/12/08
      73.   Good for Livni 09:19  |  M 22/12/08
      74.   Israel to world: it`s OK for us to smite them, isn`t it? 09:38  |  Johnboy 22/12/08
      75.   Hamas should realize, they could still avoid what is coming by 09:40  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 22/12/08
      76.   Why not keep it simple 09:46  |  bernard 22/12/08
      77.   The world should spit in Israeli faces for its blockade on Gaza 09:53  |  Dutch 22/12/08
      78.   This country is run by SUCH IDIOTS !!!!! 09:54  |  Jew 22/12/08
      79.   The rest of the world can take a jump 10:02  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 22/12/08
      80.   P.S. 10:05  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 22/12/08
      81.   Mines 10:25  |  Me 22/12/08
      82.   THE BLITZ, and the world trambles... 10:29  |  chop-chop 22/12/08
      83.   Regretably, they are blind, better a campaign to re-unite ....... 10:33  |  Harvey 22/12/08
      84.   THE BLITZ, and the world trambles...PART 2 10:34  |  chop-chop 22/12/08
      85.   PLEASE USE "IMAGINE" AS BACKGROUND FOR WAR 11:08  |  indrajaya 22/12/08
      86.   To Eli: absolutely 12:07  |  John 22/12/08
      87.   A sure sign of a failed policy 12:23  |  Murray 22/12/08
      88.   Alternative campaign 18:59  |  Jan Elshout 22/12/08
      89.   #67, Peter Williams..."has no alternative?" 21:03  |  Silvienne 22/12/08
      90.   Becuase they isn`t the Sheim! 21:29  |  Paul 22/12/08
      91.   PR! 21:31  |  Paul 22/12/08
      92.   Au contraire BBS News no. 64 21:50  |  Murray of Montreal 22/12/08
      93.   John # 86 _ If They Are Willing To Negotiate A Peaceful 06:52  |  Eli 23/12/08
      94.   Gaza Offensive 06:26  |  Gordon Carson 04/01/09
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