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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Daniel Bar-On)
Last update - 02:03 28/12/2008
IDF mobilizes tanks, reinforces troops along Gaza border
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Ehud Barak, Hamas 

The Israel Defense Forces on early Sunday began mobilizing tanks and reinforcing ground troops near the Gaza border, in preparation for a possible ground incursion.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Sky News that he would not rule out widening the offensive in the Gaza Strip to include a ground invasion.

Barak on Saturday also said Israel "cannot really accept" a cease-fire with Hamas, rejecting calls by the United Nations and the European Union for a truce after Israel Air Force strikes killed at least 230 people in Gaza.
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"For us to be asked to have a cease-fire with Hamas is like asking you to have a cease-fire with Al-Qaida," Barak said in an interview with Fox News. "It's something we cannot really accept."

Asked whether Israel would follow up the air strikes with a ground offensive, Barak said, "If boots on the ground will be needed, they will be there."

"Our intention is to totally change the rules of the game," he said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert earlier on Saturday said no country in the world would put up with the rocket and missile strikes Israel suffers from and that the time had come to react.

Olmert's words came during a press conference he held hours after the Israel Defense Forces and the IAF carried out attacks in Gaza that Palestinian officials said left at least 230 dead and hundreds wounded.

"Israel has done all it could to preserve the cease-fire with Hamas, but our desire for quiet was met with terror," Olmert said.

Olmert added that Israel "is not itching for a fight, but will not back down from one either."

The Prime Minister also vowed to restore quiet to the lives of Israel's southern residents, adding that they "will not be abandoned." He also said that the IDF operations in Gaza would take time, and asked for patience.

Leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, accused Israel on Saturday of a "massacre" of Palestinians, saying "Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre."

Haniyeh's statement was broadcast by his Islamist group's Gaza-based
television channel, Al-Aqsa.

Earlier Saturday, Barak held a press conference on Saturday in which he said had no choice and that "the time has come to fight."

Barak said the IDF and IAF attacks had destroyed "terrorism infrastructure" and hit more than 150 Hamas targets. He also said the current campaign would be widened and will continue for some time.

Barak said Israel cannot stand by while rockets strike the communities of the western Negev and "won't let terror hurt our citizens or soldiers."

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Saturday addressed the ongoing IDF campaign in Gaza, saying, "Until now we have shown restraint. But today there is no other option than a military operation."

Livni, speaking in English at a press conference, said Israel had no
choice but to act to "protect our citizens from attack through a military response against the terror infrastructure in Gaza."

Livni called the IDF operations an expression of Israel's "basic right to self-defense."

The Foreign Minister laid blame for the bloodshed at the feet of Hamas, saying the group "cynically abuses its own civilian population and their suffering for propaganda purposes."

Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired at least 54 Qassam and Grad rockets into southern Israel on Saturday after the IDF campaign began. One of the rockets directly struck a home in the town of Netivot, leaving one Israel dead and four with moderate to serious injuries.


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      1.   Don`t Stop ! 17:36  |  The Teacher/Instruct 27/12/08
      2.   barak livni and politics 17:38  |  Arie 27/12/08
      3.   Whatever the motivation ... this was long overdue! 18:16  |  Proud Israeli 27/12/08
      4.   "collective punishment" 18:48  |  David 27/12/08
      5.   http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=30771 19:15  |  The Truth 27/12/08
      6.   the twisted israeli politics 19:15  |  no-one 27/12/08
      7.   IAF STRIKE ON HAMAS 19:17  |  FROM MUMBAI WITH JOY 27/12/08
      8.   Ah, the Israeli election campaign has begun... 19:19  |  Hanoman 27/12/08
      9.   to #1: what the F*&K do you teach??? 19:20  |  slick willy 27/12/08
      10.   Keep at it - we support Israel`s right to defend - from India 19:21  |  George 27/12/08
      11.   The time has come for and ELECTION! 19:22  |  GloomBoom.com 27/12/08
      12.   whas the definition of SELF DEFENSE? 19:26  |  novice 27/12/08
      13.   Mindless Israeli reaction 19:33  |  Mitch Katz 27/12/08
      14.   today justified attack 19:34  |  samuel abbo 27/12/08
      15.   We have no choice 19:35  |  Steve Gure 27/12/08
      16.   Enjoy your retirement in Miami Beach 19:41  |  Josh 27/12/08
      17.   SOI has had many choices 19:41  |  T A Sheppard 27/12/08
      18.   barak is so happy;he gets to puppet the words of his puppetier; 19:42  |  glenna 27/12/08
      19.   Fighting... 19:44  |  Maureen Ann 27/12/08
      20.   Israeli attack on Hamas in Gaza 19:49  |  Vaclav Baloun Dvorak 27/12/08
      21.   Gazan Offensive 19:52  |  Scott L. Havsy 27/12/08
      22.   Barak to little to late you won`t be reelected 19:54  |  Judea 27/12/08
      23.   Thank you 19:55  |  Miriam 27/12/08
      24.   David, 3 19:57  |  Harry 27/12/08
      25.   Barak did have a choice.... 20:05  |  DUtch 27/12/08
      26.   Livni and Barak are using this as a way to rise in the polls 20:06  |  Kipperraes 27/12/08
      27.   So David Israel should allow Hamas to hit its towns and citizens 20:07  |  Steve -nyc 27/12/08
      28.   Admiring Indian! 20:42  |  Vj 27/12/08
      29.   200 Hamas dead, how many new recruits created? 20:53  |  newageblues 27/12/08
      30.   David 20:54  |  amnon 27/12/08
      31.   then fight like a man 20:59  |  billy jack 27/12/08
      32.   Let Sober Heads Prevail 20:59  |  massaraksh 27/12/08
      33.   Olmert`s statement was right on target. All Israelis want is 21:02  |  Hanokh 27/12/08
      34.   Israel didn`t exactly abide by the ceasefire either 21:03  |  rm 27/12/08
      35.   Timing is everything 21:07  |  harry 27/12/08
      36.   What Olmert didn`t say 21:14  |  The Warrior 27/12/08
      37.   Keep Rice Out 21:24  |  Howard 27/12/08
      38.   David (#3) 21:25  |  Jonathan 27/12/08
      39.   IDF is Creating new 1 billion Muslim Enemies 21:25  |  Serdar Kasapoglu 27/12/08
      40.   Hey Serdar, question for you: 21:37  |  Mark 27/12/08
      41.   The song of the sea. 21:41  |  sandra chitayat 27/12/08
      42.   How many innocent civilian Pals dead? 21:46  |  Michael 27/12/08
      43.   well done 21:46  |  vicy 27/12/08
      44.   The "Collective Terror" Against Israeli Civilians and Cities Must 21:46  |  Eli 27/12/08
      45.   No 1. And which govenment would do better? 21:47  |  Palestinian Brit 27/12/08
      46.   newageblues 21:49  |  vik 27/12/08
      47.   the teacher/instruct 21:49  |  muskens 27/12/08
      48.   Gaza Attacks 22:09  |  Louis Vincent 27/12/08
      49.   The U.K and the IRA? 22:17  |  Manny Goldstein 27/12/08
      50.   Our desire for quiet was met with terror 22:19  |  Galvin Templar 27/12/08
      51.   Thanks for the IDF for creating new support for HAMAS 22:22  |  Observor 27/12/08
      52.   #12 Michael UK 22:23  |  *BEN JABO 27/12/08
      53.   Mission Impossible? 22:25  |  giosil 27/12/08
      54.   So your advice idiots is to sit and take it 22:25  |  x-ray 27/12/08
      55.   What else might Israel have done? 23:09  |  Morris Valentine 27/12/08
      56.   It seems they asked for it this time. I hope the IDF will be 23:12  |  Philip 27/12/08
      57.   Finally an end to the siege (we hope) 23:14  |  utagawa 27/12/08
      58.   Stop fighting each others! Build better economy and environment! 23:15  |  Vision 27/12/08
      59.   Olmert has it the other way around 23:16  |  Dutch 27/12/08
      60.   enaugh 23:20  |  mourad 27/12/08
      61.   Support to Israel 23:27  |  Oyvind Odegard 27/12/08
      62.   David #3 23:27  |  disgusted 27/12/08
      63.   serdar in Turkey:Why do you kill innocent Kurds? 23:34  |  Arie 27/12/08
      64.   To michael in the UK:How many? 23:42  |  Arie 27/12/08
      65.   #28 Apparently that lesson was learned months ago 23:47  |  DesMnsDave 27/12/08
      66.   you cannot break our resolve 23:52  |  Gaza son 27/12/08
      67.   To manny: and let`s not forget the bastion of brit imperialism 23:54  |  Arie 27/12/08
      68.   IDF campaign 00:01  |  Michael Wildman 28/12/08
      69.   Reply to X-Ray (31) - Spot On ! 00:04  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/12/08
      70.   #28 HamAss 00:14  |  Michael 28/12/08
      71.   Olmerts reaction will do nothiing to stop Hamas 00:17  |  zionist forever 28/12/08
      72.   #1 A very human post 00:18  |  Osama 28/12/08
      73.   Manny Goldstein try to compare another country 00:18  |  Aby 28/12/08
      74.   My Enemy, Billy Jack 00:22  |  Richard Fitzwell 28/12/08
      75.   Mr. Olmert , Re: The blood of Gaza 00:29  |  Dutch 28/12/08
      76.   only a dope billy jack would not use would not use his strategic 00:34  |  Jewish American-USA 28/12/08
      77.   Israel deliberately provoked the violence 00:41  |  www.kibush.co.il 28/12/08
      78.   #31 x-ray - Not `take it` but be smart and strong? 00:49  |  Manny Goldstein 28/12/08
      79.   It`s a miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 00:56  |  Ethan 28/12/08
      80.   Israel has no future in the middle east 01:01  |  Alan 28/12/08
      81.   Serdar Kasapoglu # 16 So What Else Is New? 01:05  |  Jeff Northridge 28/12/08
      82.   #16 Serdar Kasapoglu 01:10  |  vik 28/12/08
      83.   #29Ben Jabo. Israel has proven its bravery. 01:15  |  Maureen Ann 28/12/08
      84.   European union 01:33  |  Mike 28/12/08
      85.   It`s a miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 01:35  |  Ethan 28/12/08
      86.   IDF: just do is. 01:38  |  Moshe 28/12/08
      87.   It`s a miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 01:40  |  Ethan 28/12/08
      88.   VJ hungry and Angry man 01:45  |  Peace 28/12/08
      89.   Israel and american jews 01:46  |  israeli from abroad 28/12/08
      90.   accused Israel on Saturday of a "massacre" of Palestinians 01:49  |  vik 28/12/08
      91.   Insanity 01:55  |  Peace Maker 28/12/08
      92.   God Bless the Palestinian People 01:56  |  Jen 28/12/08
      93.   Israeli aggression 01:59  |  Gary olson 28/12/08
      94.   Welcome IDF in Gaza... we have for you Roses of Death 02:00  |  Palestine.my.love 28/12/08
      95.   for #16 Serdar Kasapoglu 02:01  |  David 28/12/08
      96.   Make peace how you can. 02:06  |  aesaac 28/12/08
      97.   There`s not much difference between Hamas and Israel. 02:06  |  Michael 28/12/08
      98.   Changing the rules of the game 02:10  |  Peter Williams 28/12/08
      99.   28,Do not concern yourself with new support,will be destroyed too 02:11  |  Fair Observoir 28/12/08
      100.   to David # 3 02:13  |  David 28/12/08
      101.   Okay, observor 02:17  |  Omri 28/12/08
      102.   #16 Serdar: So we had 1 billion Muslim friends? 02:20  |  Bennie 28/12/08
      103.   Go Israel! 02:20  |  Joey 28/12/08
      104.   Go Israel! 02:20  |  Joey 28/12/08
      105.   Kind of begs the question 02:20  |  Colin Wright 28/12/08
      106.   when I read billion new hanas recruits over this 02:23  |  larzbeach 28/12/08
      107.   to x-ray #31 `so your advice...` 02:26  |  Colin Wright 28/12/08
      108.   israel defends itself 02:28  |  steve 28/12/08
      109.   Gaza Attacks 02:33  |  André 28/12/08
      110.   Oyvind #32 `Support to Israel` 02:34  |  Colin Wright 28/12/08
      111.   Haniyeh: not even at Jenin? 02:46  |  Serge 28/12/08
      112.   Michael in the UK, Haaretz is wiping out posts... 03:00  |  BBSNews 28/12/08
      113.   YOU DON`T NEGOTIATE WITH SWORN ENEMIES. YOU DEFEAT THEM! 03:01  |  Ambrose 28/12/08
      114.   Feeling guilty already x-ray? 03:09  |  BBSNews 28/12/08
      115.   musken, think Nasrallah will ride in on a horse? 04:18  |  Orkochav 28/12/08
      116.   gaza 04:28  |  GEORGE 28/12/08
      117.   GAZA 04:31  |  BARRI 28/12/08
      118.   #24 Are you serious? 04:32  |  Henry 28/12/08
      119.   do muslime have a higher rate of mental ilness than other races? 04:34  |  bob 28/12/08
      120.   Israel 04:42  |  Andrew 28/12/08
      121.   Idiots 04:44  |  Ster 28/12/08
      122.   asymmetrical warfare 04:48  |  cuthean 28/12/08
      123.   Finish the Game 04:49  |  James 28/12/08
      124.   Gazan sources report 15 out of the 230 casualties civillia 05:01  |  Nov 28/12/08
      125.   Guilty Jews 05:11  |  Tony Z 28/12/08
      126.   Hamas 05:12  |  Bill 28/12/08
      127.   Attack on Gaza 05:19  |  Evan 28/12/08
      128.   Destroy them 05:28  |  P.A.T.R.I.O.T. 28/12/08
      129.   Isreali defensive moves in Gasa 05:39  |  Thomas S. Stein MBA 28/12/08
      130.   Time to end this. 05:59  |  Ken 28/12/08
      131.   Hamas terrorists 06:04  |  Larry Kisslinger 28/12/08
      132.   Nice way to start a War 06:18  |  Rodger 28/12/08
      133.   Murderers 06:26  |  Civilized Human 28/12/08
      134.   Stand Firm 06:39  |  Bian Smith 28/12/08
      135.   Time to finish it Israel 06:51  |  Joe USA 28/12/08
      136.   It`s about time 06:59  |  jmartin 28/12/08
      137.   Lets see evil for what it is 07:12  |  pete 28/12/08
      138.   Israel vs. Terrorists 07:19  |  Craig Eliot 28/12/08
      139.   It`s about time! 07:21  |  Tim Chambers 28/12/08
      140.   It`s a miracle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 07:40  |  Ethan 28/12/08
      141.   Isreals attack 07:46  |  Little Leaper 28/12/08
      142.   Hamas needs to be exterminated 07:54  |  Tom 28/12/08
      143.   Israel Has Taken Hamas Rockets Far Too Long ! 08:35  |  Barry 28/12/08
      144.   Happy hunting 08:36  |  George 28/12/08
      145.   Mumbai 08:36  |  Anne 28/12/08
      146.   Religion of peace 08:37  |  Anne 28/12/08
      147.   What is wrong here? 08:38  |  US Conservative 28/12/08
      148.   Don`t Sop! Iran Next 08:59  |  Mahomad 28/12/08
      149.   "collective punishment" 09:03  |  Ray 28/12/08
      150.   It`s About Time! 09:03  |  Bobby M 28/12/08
      151.   Please GOD Forgive Israel 09:11  |  Jeff Speakman 28/12/08
      152.   Kick It! 09:15  |  Bob 28/12/08
      153.   conflict resolution 09:24  |  jim heath 28/12/08
      154.   Poking WW3... 09:26  |  Andrew 28/12/08
      155.   Let it rip baby!! 09:56  |  Thomas Goldshlong 28/12/08
      156.   To #57...will God forgive 3000 rockets? 10:24  |  Joe 28/12/08
      157.   Watch this closely IRAN 10:54  |  brandon 28/12/08
      158.   For Brandon # 114 11:36  |  Clickfool 28/12/08
      159.   Israeli response 11:37  |  Stephen Lewis 28/12/08
      160.   Good for you,Israel! 11:38  |  Sporty 28/12/08
      161.   On the Declaration of War with Spain in 1739 12:07  |  Clickfool 28/12/08
      162.   Israeli Response 12:32  |  Merl 28/12/08
      163.   Jeff Speakman # 111 12:33  |  The Teacher/Instruct 28/12/08
      164.   Israel Liberates Gaza From The Terrorists 16:34  |  James Bailey 28/12/08
      165.   Israel Liberates Gaza From The Terrorists 18:11  |  Sterling 28/12/08
      166.   Gaza 18:16  |  Burglar 28/12/08
      167.   can`t we all just get along? 23:20  |  kw 28/12/08
      168.   Oh, so that`s why... 00:49  |  Grustnij 29/12/08
      169.   IDF Mobilizes tanks, reinforces troops along Gaza border. 09:20  |  Miriam Jakubowitz 29/12/08
      170.   Hope is on the way 14:06  |  Semkins 29/12/08
      171.   All of those unimpeded air strikes will not 14:23  |  Erastus CoupeDeVille 29/12/08
      172.   Olmert 15:41  |  M Swaid 29/12/08
      173.   Israel vs Terrorism 17:59  |  Roy 29/12/08
      174.   IDF mobilizes tanks, reinforces troops along Gaza border 22:56  |  Mike 29/12/08
      175.   IDF mobilizes tanks 09:23  |  Anon 30/12/08
      176.   The Palestinian Opportunities Part 1 12:38  |  AryehG 30/12/08
      177.   The Palestinian Opportunities Part 2 12:41  |  AryehG 30/12/08
      178.   to Admiring Indian 19:15  |  Steve 30/12/08
     Read & React
    Rockets fired from Gaza kill 2 Israelis within hour
    Responses: 198
    ANALYSIS / Hamas is hoping for an IDF ground operation
    Responses: 115
    Grossman / Is Israel imprisoned in the ceremony of war?
    Responses: 101
    Prolonged Gaza operation spells trouble for Israel
    Responses: 31
    Chicago synagogue firebombed; police probe possible link to Gaza violence
    Responses: 14


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