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IDF general warns of Hezbollah retaliation against North By Barak Ravid Tags: hamas, hezbollah, israel news  Head of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the cabinet Sunday that Hezbollah might carry out a limited attack in the north via a Palestinian terror group in response to the Israel Defense Forces ground operation now underway in Gaza. A government source in Jerusalem said that the military is on high alert in the north against a flare-up. The source said many reservists have been called up for service in the north. Advertisement Yadlin told the ministers that the blow Hezbollah received in 2006 made it wary of carrying out a major attack. "Hezbollah might carry out a low-profile attack by means of a Palestinian organization that would be limited and not set the border alight," Yadlin said. He added that forces also remained on high alert in light of a possible Hezbollah strike against an Israeli target abroad." He said the date to watch for was February 14, the date last year on which senior Hezbollah operative Imad Mughniyeh was assassinated. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel had "for many months given a chance for a cease-fire, in the hope that a major military operation would not be necessary, but our hopes were disappointed." Olmert directed his comments to the mothers of soldiers now at the front. "I turned over the matter a great deal in my mind and held consultations with the rest of the ministers as to whether there was another way out and an effort that had not been made before we sent the boys to a place full of dangers from which some might not return," he said. "This morning I can look each of you in the eye and tell you we have done everything before we decided to embark on the operation." Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin told the ministers that Hamas' political leadership in Damascus and Gaza are under major pressure and want a cease-fire. Diskin said the political leadership had received a serious blow but the military wing has not been hurt as much as Israel would like. Diskin said what damage had been done to the military wing was to its ability in moving weapons within the Gaza Strip. He added there was no lack of food in the Strip, but there were difficulties getting food to the people because of the fighting. He also said there was a fuel shortage. Olmert said the operation was intended to take control of the areas from which most of the rockets were being fired at Israel, a total of 220 since the operation started. With regard to the civilian population in Gaza, Olmert said, "they are not our enemy. They are also victims of violent and cruel oppression by terror organizations." He added that Israel would not allow a humanitarian crisis to develop in Gaza. "We will assist in supplying food and medicine as an enlightened and moral country must do," he said. Yadlin also said Hamas was presenting a false picture of a strong stand. "While Khaled Meshal is smiling in his office in Damascus," he said, "Hamas leaders in Gaza are in crawl-spaces." Related articles: Lebanon analysts: Hezbollah doesn't want fight with Israel over Gaza ground op IDF recommends major, but brief Gaza ground offensive Livni: Gaza truce would give Hamas legitimacy WATCH: Israeli ground assault in the Gaza Strip underway Gaza invasion won't be short, and it won't be easy Hamas: Gaza will become graveyard for Israeli troops Israel okays call-up tens of thousands of IDF reservists Hezbollah urges Hamas to 'kill as many Israeli soldiers as they can' during Gaza op EU presidency: Israel ground op in Gaza 'defensive not offensive' Tens of thousands rally across Europe against Israel's Gaza offensive Bookmark to del.icio.us   Haute advice Sarkozy tells Peres IDF Gaza op does not strengthen Abbas. W speaks Bush says Israel has right to protect itself against Gaza attacks.   1.   Lebanon is responsible for any acts of war coming from Lebanon 06:53  |  PETER SM 05/01/09   2.   Israel seeks Hizbollah attention 08:39  |  Natallie Durson 05/01/09   3.   lebanon another lesson 08:53  |  qassam 05/01/09   4.   enough of terrorists games! 10:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/01/09   5.   I Hope Syria Stays Out Of This One 10:19  |  Yosemite 05/01/09   6.   to # 3 - qassam 10:24  |  Robert 05/01/09   7.   Natallie Durson - Don`t underestimate Israel.. Again, the force 11:20  |  BF 05/01/09   8.   They will all rearm 11:24  |  THEN ATTACK 05/01/09   9.   If Hizbollah Attacks Than Wipe Out Hizbollah Too 13:22  |  Baruch Gold 05/01/09   10.   #7 BF 14:20  |  Natallie Durson 05/01/09   11.   Possible action from Hezbollah but... 16:24  |  David Nigel Braham 05/01/09   12.   exactly 16:29  |  fedup 05/01/09   13.   responce to qassam 19:19  |  George 05/01/09   14.   Absolutely!...Hezbollah can retaliate without being attacked ! 20:34  |  Elie 05/01/09

Read & React Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff: How much time does the IDF have left in Gaza? Responses: 70 Sarkozy: Hamas to blame for suffering of Palestinians in Gaza Responses: 47 Amira Hass: Wounded Gaza family lay bleeding for 20 hours Responses: 78 'We lost our homes for nothing,' says reservist from former Gaza settlement Responses: 59 Amir Oren: What's happening in Gaza is neither war nor occupation Responses: 33 More Headlines 22:40 Israeli troops trade heavy fire with Hamas gunmen in northern Gaza 23:51 Sarkozy tells Peres: IDF Gaza operation does not strengthen Abbas 23:53 Bush: Israel has right to protect itself against Gaza attacks 23:00 Demonstrators cry 'nuke Israel,' carry Hezbollah flags at U.S. anti-Israel rallies 23:52 Two Israelis wounded by Gaza mortars in western Negev 21:05 U.S. to foil any Arab bid to push Security Council resolution for Gaza cease-fire 23:51 Gaza War Diary III: If Mexico shelled Texas, like Hamas shells Israel 22:30 Iran: We have 70,000 suicide bombers ready to strike Israel 23:51 Israel arrests newsman with Iranian TV for prematurely reporting on IDF entry into Gaza 20:19 ANALYSIS / Egypt emerges as big winner from Gaza crisis 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 18:21 PICTURE GALLERY / Gaza incursion sparks protests around world 23:10 Amira Hass / For 48 hours, gunbattles kept wounded Gaza family from medical aid 16:35 Livni: Israel will no longer show restraint when attacked 21:42 Over 2,000 take to streets of Haifa to protest IDF Gaza operation 21:17 The Guardian publishes obituary of Hamas terror chieftain killed by IAF 18:22 IDF shell kills Palestinian family of seven near Gaza City 18:21 Mauritania recalls ambassador from Israel in wake of Gaza offensive 13:40 Court orders home of Jerusalem yeshiva terrorist sealed off 14:37 Hamas official: We must lay foundation for a tomorrow without Zionists 21:02 ANALYSIS / How much time is left for the IDF to operate in Gaza? 14:51 Netivot mayor demands to have pre-school centers in bomb shelters 16:58 9/11 plotter ordered bombing of Tunisia synagogue, French prosecutors say Previous Editions Select Day 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

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