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Public Security Minister Avi Dichter (Ouriah Tadmor / Jini)
Last update - 19:03 28/02/2008
Barak: Wide ground operation in Gaza is 'real and tangible'
By Amos Harel and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents and Reuters
Tags: Israel, Gaza, Hamas 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday that a large scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip is a "real and tangible" response to the escalation of violence in southern Israel, with Gaza militants firing an unusually high number of Qassam and Grad rockets into Ashkelon, Sderot and western Negev communities in recent days.

Barak spoke one day after a 47-year-old college student was killed outside Sderot as some 50 rockets pounded southern Israel.

"We must prepare for continued escalation," the defense minister said. "We are not eager [to carry out a large-scale ground operation in Gaza], and not shying away from it," the defense minister said.
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"There is a wide range of considerations regarding the timing, which we can't share with the public or with Hamas. We will get there after we examine all the other possibilities," Barak added.

Barak has been warning for months that such an invasion is growing near. At a high-level security meeting at his office in Tel Aviv Thursday, Barak was quoted as saying, "Israel cannot accept this situation. The deterioration is the fault of Hamas. Israel will reach the perpetrators [of the Qassam rocket fire] and Hamas will pay a price for its actions."

Barak spoke during the course of the day with political officials as part of efforts to prepare for another escalation of violence. Among others, Barak spoke with the Quartet's envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair, who said that Hamas was to blame for the escalation in violence.

Peres: We'll defeat Qassam fire like we halted suicide bombings

President Shimon Peres said on Thursday that Israel will manage to defeat Qassam fire in the same way it managed to put an end to suicide bombings.

During a visit to Beit She'an, Peres spoke about the volatility the city underwent during the second Intifada several years ago, when suicide bombers repeatedly infiltrated Israel from the nearby West Bank and carried out suicide attacks against Israeli targets.

"There was a time when we thought that security could not be restored in the city, but now it has already been forgotten. In the same way we managed to triumph over suicide bombers, we'll triumph over the rockets."

When asked whether he supports the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the abducted IDF soldiers, the president said that "we have to do everything that needs to be done, even if it takes a heavy toll, but we must be cautious not to do unnecessary things." However, Peres emphasized that he is opposed to releasing convicted terrorists.

Dichter: Current government policy will not stop Qassam fire

On a tour of the Qassam-battered town of Sderot on Thursday, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter rejected calls to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and urged the government to reconsider its policy against the intensifying rocket attacks.

"Whoever talks about entering and occupying the Gaza Strip, these are populist ideas which I don't connect to, and in my opinion, no intelligent person does either," he told reporters during a press conference at Sapir College, where an Israeli civilian was killed by Qassam fire the day before.

He called on the government to come up with an alternative policy for fighting the rockets, saying: "I recognize everything the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet are doing, but right now they are operating according to an existing policy."

"This is not what is going to stop the Qassam fire and this must be brought to the cabinet for discussion," he added.

Just before Dichter's address, a Qassam exploded on the college campus, lightly wounding one of his guards. Dichter was not present at the site at the time of the attack.

Immigration Absorption Minister Jacob Edrey, who accompanied Dichter on his Sderot tour, took a harsher line, saying: "The government will need to contend and make difficult decisions. We are not far from the day in which we will have to go in and reoccupy all of Gaza."

At the end of the press conference, the Red Color alert sounded, and the meeting was concluded in a protected shelter.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that Israel is at war with Palestinian militants and vowed the Israel Defense Forces would continue to fight them until security returns to citizens of southern Israel.

"We are in a war which sometimes exacts a high cost, and sometimes does not," the prime minister said.

"We will continue fighting in order for the danger to the residents of the south to end. This is a long process, and a painful one, and we haven't any magic formulas to solve this today. We are suffering painful blows, but are returning more painful blows."

Olmert said however that Israel would not change its overall policy in the Gaza Strip. "What is happening today happened a week ago, and is likely to happen in the near future," he said.

"No one in Hamas, neither among the low ranks nor among the senior ranks, will be immune to that war," Olmert threatened.

The prime minister added that the Palestinians are "testing Israel's patience" to its limit.

The prime minister made the comments during a visit to a Nissan factory in Tokyo.

Officials: Response to rockets will be harsh

A senior defense official said Wednesday night that the Israeli response to the rocket fire on Sderot and Ashkelon is expected to be particularly harsh, and that Israel does not intend to let pass Hamas' decision to escalate its offensive measures.

Military sources told Haaretz that in the next few weeks the IDF will complete its preparations for a major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. However, they added that the final decision on a wide-scale incursion is in the hands of the government, and no decision has been made yet.

Hamas fired some 50 rockets at Israel on the worst day of fighting the Gaza Strip border has seen in more than two weeks. Several rockets hit Ashkelon.

Rice: Hamas to blame for Gaza situation

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for the rocket attacks on Israel to stop and blamed Hamas for the situation in Gaza, speaking after a meeting with Olmert in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Rice is set to visit Israel and the West Bank next week to try to push along U.S.-brokered peace talks complicated by the growing violence.

The secretary of state also voiced concern about Palestinian civilians killed in IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, but stopped short of an explicit call for Israel to exercise restraint.

Asked if she had urged Olmert not to use disproportionate force in responding to rocket attacks from Gaza, Rice told reporters: "I think that's not a good way to address this issue. The issue is that the attacks - rocket attacks need to stop."

She said she had reiterated to Olmert U.S. concerns for the humanitarian situation.

"I am concerned about the humanitarian condition there and innocent people in the Gaza who are being hurt. We have to remember that the Hamas activities there are responsible for what has happened in Gaza ... But, of course, we are concerned about innocent people and we are concerned about the humanitarian situation," she said after the one-hour breakfast meeting.

Sources in Olmert's entourage said that he was briefed by the military secretary on the rocket fire against Sderot and the Israeli civilian killed there. The prime minister was informed that the Hamas was responsible for that attack, and the assessment was that it came in response to the killing of six members of Hamas during IDF operations in the morning.

However, regarding the possibility of an offensive in the Gaza Strip, Olmert said: "I do not recall speaking even once about a ground operation in the Strip."

Earlier, Olmert said that he had not received any concrete offer from Hamas for a cease-fire with Israel.

Related articles:
  • ANALYSIS: In the end blood was shed in Sderot, not Gaza
  • News / Woman, two children hurt in Qassam attack on Sderot
  • IDF tank unit kills Palestinian near Gaza border
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      1.   What Olmert is really saying 02:22  |  Shepherd 28/02/08
      2.   Pal officials vs Pal witnesses 03:02  |  MR 28/02/08
      3.   Israel, Hamas and a cease fire 03:09  |  Tosefta 28/02/08
      4.   Talk and bombing empty building is useless 03:09  |  Figaro 28/02/08
      5.   Israeli policy leading to Gaza invasion 03:11  |  Tosefta 28/02/08
      6.   Where and When Is The Harsh Response Going to Start? 03:28  |  Eli 28/02/08
      7.   Obama & Muslim friend wearing turbans 03:44  |  Katie 28/02/08
      8.   Olmert`s big talk but NO action 03:48  |  Brod 28/02/08
      9.   Stop Putting Off The Inevitable 03:57  |  Steve 28/02/08
      10.   Olmert PROMISES PROMISES 04:06  |  * BEN JABO 28/02/08
      11.   not more than 50 04:08  |  natan 28/02/08
      12.   Israel rules Gaza or Gaza rules Israel 04:14  |  Sam 28/02/08
      13.   Is that not what Hamas wants? - Tosefta 04:31  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
      14.   Military response? 04:32  |  Dan 28/02/08
      15.   Causewitz, Washington, Ho Chi Min and winning 04:39  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
      16.   #4 Tosefta 04:41  |  Moshe 28/02/08
      17.   Harsh Response 04:46  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 28/02/08
      18.   Negotiate 04:49  |  Ariel 28/02/08
      19.   Tosefta - the final word(s) 04:52  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
      20.   Olmert, the only self filling hot air balloon 04:56  |  bernard ross 28/02/08
      21.   Syria - Right up in ya 05:13  |  Rightster 28/02/08
      22.   "Promise to open Gates of Hell" 05:13  |  Shimon List 28/02/08
      23.   forget Abbas 05:19  |  Shimon List 28/02/08
      24.   Mr Olmert, Innocent Israelis are being murdered! 05:20  |  david P. 28/02/08
      25.   INNOCENT PEOPLE IN GAZA 05:22  |  HOWARD 28/02/08
      26.   #2 tosefta 05:30  |  sammy 28/02/08
      27.   How many israeli`s have to die before Olmert takes over Gaza 05:32  |  Shepherd 28/02/08
      28.   Waiting for a child`s death 05:44  |  geoff 28/02/08
      29.   Olmerts cease fire 05:45  |  igco 28/02/08
      30.   Israel funded Hamas 05:50  |  Art Skell 28/02/08
      31.   To all you warmongers 05:52  |  Harold 28/02/08
      32.   cease-fire overdue in the south 06:11  |  Smadar 28/02/08
      33.   Rice who? 06:11  |  ben 28/02/08
      34.   sins of the fathers 06:13  |  Gregor 28/02/08
      35.   Israel vows to repeat the same mistakes 06:17  |  Joe 28/02/08
      36.   Tosefta, admitting his own error? 06:24  |  Jewboy 28/02/08
      37.   Be Careful! You`re being Suckered Into a War Situation ! 06:27  |  MIKE 28/02/08
      38.   To Ben Jabo 06:37  |  Ghassan 28/02/08
      39.   2 Points on this....... 06:46  |  R 28/02/08
      40.   ARREST HAMAS 06:48  |  US CITIZEN 28/02/08
      41.   Empty Buildings Ben Jabo??? 06:55  |  Ayman 28/02/08
      42.   The Arabs Are Either At Your Throat Or At Your Feet 07:00  |  RickD 28/02/08
      43.   Stop Vowing And Just Do It 07:01  |  Al 28/02/08
      44.   Hey Rabbi Yakov 07:10  |  Michael 28/02/08
      45.   I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS 07:19  |  indrajaya 28/02/08
      46.   What Is The Government Waiting For? 07:21  |  Raymondo 28/02/08
      47.   Status quo is UNACCEPTABLEMr. Olmert 07:34  |  Daniel 28/02/08
      48.   Enough with the vows,action is needed not vows. 07:47  |  Yossi Saar 28/02/08
      49.   The only way to defeat terrorism is to kill terrorists 07:51  |  Voice of Reason 28/02/08
      50.   It Will Take a Pile of Dead Jewish Babies... 08:03  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 28/02/08
      51.   #12 Moshe 08:16  |  Johnboy 28/02/08
      52.   ariel 08:26  |  ka 28/02/08
      53.   Olmert`s Way of Fighting Wars = Weird 08:35  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/02/08
      54.   TRYINOR OUR PATIENCE...DO WE NEED ANOTHER 7000 ROCKETS TO MOVE!!! 08:37  |  Ben Uziel 28/02/08
      55.   To Rabbi Yakov Lazaros # 13 08:55  |  dovale 28/02/08
      56.   NO POLITICS PLEASE ! NOT NOW. NO 09:09  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 28/02/08
      57.   SOUTHERN ISRAEL TODAY, ALL JEWISH WORLD TOMORROWS 09:12  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      58.   ISRAEL DONT CARE HER OWN BROTHERS IN WORLD 09:12  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 28/02/08
      59.   PALESTINIANS ARE WINNING 09:14  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 28/02/08
      60.   ALL WORLD SUPPORT PALESTINIANS DEEPLY 09:14  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 28/02/08
      61.   The solution to their distress and misery. 09:17  |  Jean Van Daem 28/02/08
      62.   A NEW ISRAEL, A NEW HOPE, GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD 09:18  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      63.   NEIGHTER GOD NOR US LOVE ISRAEL 09:18  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      64.   MY EYES SEE YOU IN DEEP DIRT, MY HEART CRIES 09:18  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      65.   WORLD IS SLEEPING NUCLEAR ! DONT WAKE IT UP ! 09:19  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      66.   YOU DONT REMEMBER ! YOU REMEMBER NOTHING 09:20  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      67.   THIS ISRAEL IS LOSING 09:22  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      68.   IN FACT I DONT LOVE ANY OF YOU, I JUST TRY HELP 09:23  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      69.   YOU NO MAGIC, IN DEVIL BUSINESS THERE ALSO IS AN END 09:24  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      70.   RED SEA WAITS WITH PATIENCE. GREAT HUG POTENTIAL SHE HAS 09:25  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      71.   ISRAEL WILL END UP RELIGIOUSLY 09:26  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      72.   Do nothing government 09:29  |  David 28/02/08
      73.   ISRAEL HAS BEST NUCLEAR TECH. BUT CANT STOP HOME MADE ROCKETS 09:41  |  ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU 28/02/08
      74.   Hey, 32 09:46  |  Dudka 28/02/08
      75.   7000 rockets and counting....when is enough, enough!!!! 10:14  |  Ben Uziel 28/02/08
      76.   ACTION, NOT WORDS 10:42  |  KING DAVID 28/02/08
      77.   Olmert Yossi Haimov the 10 year old can`t wait while you stall 11:16  |  Kipperraes 28/02/08
      78.   will they elect olmert if not hamas? 11:22  |  qofaras 28/02/08
      79.   who is we? 11:22  |  Fibber N. 28/02/08
      80.   Close Scottish Church in Tveria,with hateful padre Tosefta misusi 11:43  |  Absolute Sweden 28/02/08
      81.   A wide operation., not incursion. 11:50  |  Vital 28/02/08
      82.   Dichter is right -we dont need populist solutions 12:47  |  Alan 28/02/08
      83.   Use the currency the terrorists respect. 13:23  |  Raphael 28/02/08
      84.   We are suffering painful blows, but are returning more painful bl 13:39  |  yawn 28/02/08
      85.   Ammunition store-houses in the middle of civilian neighbourhoods! 13:55  |  AliciaYasmeen 28/02/08
      86.   @32, smadar? mahover? be quiet. 14:06  |  vladimir 28/02/08
      87.   Gaza 14:52  |  H Wipprecht 28/02/08
      88.   UN TIES ISRAEL`S HANDS 15:07  |  Ian 28/02/08
      89.   Dichter is right - Internal Security cannot be sustained alone 15:36  |  The Archives 28/02/08
      90.   Reading between Dichter`s lines 16:20  |  MR 28/02/08
      91.   What Hamas wants (Mark Lincoln #13) 16:34  |  Tosefta 28/02/08
      92.   LImited Incursions 16:41  |  Josh 28/02/08
      93.   In praise of Hamas (for evolution-challenged people) - Moshe #16 16:46  |  Tosefta 28/02/08
      94.   peres on gaza 16:46  |  marcel 28/02/08
      95.   Hamas...must be confused with Dichter..! 17:03  |  Stephen. 28/02/08
      96.   Dichter is right - Internal Security cannot be sustained alone 17:04  |  The Archives 28/02/08
      97.   hit and negotiatein the same time like Rabin 17:08  |  samson 28/02/08
      98.   Take over Gaza and kick out terrorists one by one 17:32  |  Gili 28/02/08
      99.   kazzam 17:43  |  Avi 28/02/08
      100.   8 years of repeating same line, a case of alzheimers? 17:49  |  Al Z. Heimer 28/02/08
      101.   The poor Peres will die and his dream of secured Israel is far 17:50  |  Palestinian Observor 28/02/08
      102.   To#1 Sheppard you go into Gaza first. OK? 17:52  |  igco 28/02/08
      103.   The Government is a joke. Doing everything it can???? Pathetic. 17:56  |  rob 28/02/08
      104.   Peres: Nu? Kassam-Shmassam? 17:57  |  db 28/02/08
      105.   Qassam versus F-16 18:13  |  Rachid Raji 28/02/08
      106.   Condy Rice Blaming Hammas for Gaza Crisis 18:38  |  Jim Brooks 28/02/08
      107.   To blind Geoff No 28 18:42  |  Sean 28/02/08
      108.   Ariel The Bloodshed Hamas Wants 18:48  |  Jimmie 28/02/08
      109.   no need for ground op. raze all that you must from the air. 18:52  |  frenz 28/02/08
      110.   real and tangible ??????? 18:55  |  ljf-canada 28/02/08
      111.   No occupation of Gaza. Only total destruction. 19:08  |  fed-up 28/02/08
      112.   Yah Peres - You`re One to Talk 19:08  |  Jimmie 28/02/08
      113.   Late Reply to #25, Howard of Brooklyn 19:10  |  Jim Brooks 28/02/08
      114.   "Trying Our Patience" - Can Olmert Be More Ridiculous/Pathetic ? 19:11  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/02/08
      115.   Barak Blah, Blah,Blah stop with the BS & attack Gaza 19:17  |  Dish It Out 28/02/08
      116.   Rachid in Somalia 19:41  |  rich 28/02/08
      117.   Rachid Raji - There is a difference between defending and 19:46  |  er 28/02/08
      118.   bla bla bla bla 19:47  |  gilead 28/02/08
      119.   Barak is bosting. 20:08  |  Atoo 28/02/08
      120.   Barak, he means you 20:09  |  Baz Mann 28/02/08
      121.   Israel 20:17  |  law 28/02/08
      122.   Rachid Raji your probally one of those that celebrated when 20:20  |  terrornator 28/02/08
      123.   RACHID; 6 Somalian terrorists arrested today in Norway and Sweden 20:22  |  planning attacks 28/02/08
      124.   I don`t see how it can be avoided 20:37  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
      125.   clearing the Ghetto 20:41  |  asadcase 28/02/08
      126.   Shimon Peres and terror..... 20:44  |  Shalom 28/02/08
      127.   Israel is brainwashed for arabs human rights. 20:48  |  Dave 28/02/08
      128.   Dichter believes in arab rights & death for Jewish soldier boys! 20:50  |  James a gentile 28/02/08
      129.   gaza and palestine 20:55  |  bert 28/02/08
      130.   Peres 21:04  |  Steve 28/02/08
      131.   It sucks 21:18  |  Paul 28/02/08
      132.   all B.S. DO THE JOB OR RESIGN WITH FOOLISH OLMERT 21:19  |  reuven 28/02/08
      133.   Shepherd 21:20  |  Paul 28/02/08
      134.   All the same hatred! 21:22  |  Paul 28/02/08
      135.   Hey Baz !! Barak is very sharp and in full charge. 21:25  |  Bill Gordon 28/02/08
      136.   #94..Rachid Raji 21:40  |  Nemesis 28/02/08
      137.   Olmet Must GO 21:46  |  Gilbert Held 28/02/08
      138.   Hamas wants an Invasion 21:49  |  Reid 28/02/08
      139.   # 94 Rachid Raji of Somalia 22:01  |  Lynn 28/02/08
      140.   stop talking and do it already before more people die on both sid 22:09  |  ralph 28/02/08
      141.   Avi Dicher is right 22:26  |  De 28/02/08
      142.   Tosefta - The win-win for Hamas 22:29  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
      143.   ground operation in Gaza 22:35  |  Ralph 28/02/08
      144.   A strategy of inevitability 22:37  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
      145.   indrajaya #45 Rabbi Yacov 100%right Dovale think clearly 22:40  |  Robert/Montreal 28/02/08
      146.   RACHID RAJ.any coward can fire a missile from among civillians 22:41  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
      147.   Barak: If you have to shoot, shoot. Don`t talk. 22:47  |  MR 28/02/08
      148.   What Olmert is really saying 22:48  |  Mark 28/02/08
      149.   Barak. 23:07  |  sandra chitayat 28/02/08
      150.   Palestinians are likely to stay where they are. 23:33  |  Jack 28/02/08
      151.   any coward can fire a missile from among civillians 23:35  |  jack 28/02/08
      152.   another battle won by IDF. we can expect 00:04  |  triska TORONTO 29/02/08
      153.   Peter Sm and racist numbers 00:13  |  Truth 29/02/08
      154.   Tosefta and poetry of Hamas. 00:47  |  17 29/02/08
      155.   Tosefta on Anything. 01:16  |  17 29/02/08
      156.   Reality check--oops, nobody home! 01:56  |  Mark Katzman 29/02/08
      157.   Reid let Israel invade instead of talking 02:06  |  Truth 29/02/08
      158.   #PeterSM "The Pal population is growing rapidly." 02:17  |  Maureen Ann 29/02/08
      159.   # To Tosefta For the Mentally Challenged People..Bravo,Kudos!! 02:18  |  Fed-Up 29/02/08
      160.   # 101 Dish it Out. Barak Blah,Blah,Blah stop with the BS & attack 02:29  |  JOSH 29/02/08
      161.   # 96 frenz..no need for ground op.raze all that you must from the 02:38  |  JOSH 29/02/08
      162.   Rachid of Somalia 04:12  |  judith 29/02/08
      163.   MAUREEN.Time"humantarians"protestedHamas putting children at risk 07:58  |  PETER SM 29/02/08
      164.   GRAD missile from IranTime for serious arms to Iranian opposition 08:11  |  PETER SM 29/02/08
      165.   `Real and Tangible`...? 08:15  |  Dagma 29/02/08
      166.   Barak: Wide ground oprtation in Gaza is real & tangible` 08:17  |  martin list, m.d. 29/02/08
      167.   #123 I detect a wee problem with JOSH`s thesis 08:30  |  Johnboy 29/02/08
      168.   ELECTED OFFICALS 08:30  |  NEIL GOLAN 29/02/08
      169.   You have a habit of leaving an open goal, Peter SM # 114 09:26  |  Clickfool 29/02/08
      170.   Tosefta #85 Does Your "Logic" Apply In Reverse Too? 10:22  |  Tim R 29/02/08
      171.   Peter sm and open racism 10:31  |  Truth 29/02/08
      172.   #94 The pot is calling the kettle black? 11:45  |  MaryRose 29/02/08
      173.   yaakov sullivan wants Israel destroyed 13:53  |  zody 29/02/08
      174.   # 125 jb.. Detection and Speculation 19:21  |  JOSH 29/02/08
      175.   # 125 jb ** Detecting With Speculation** 19:43  |  JOSH 29/02/08
      176.   #120 Maureen Ann - If Israel wanted to kill kids 02:29  |  * BEN JABO 01/03/08
      177.   Talking sense about Gaza? 20:40  |  Robert 01/03/08
      178.   Israel needs a buffer zone of 20 mileass and eye on disarmng Ham 00:34  |  Evelyn Hayes 02/03/08
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    00:12 5 hurt in Ashkelon as close to 50 rockets hit southern Israel
    00:15 PA suspends peace talks with Israel over Gaza violence
    00:48 Family and friends gather to pay respects to fallen IDF soldiers
    00:17 Meshal: Gaza is 'real holocaust,' armed resistance only option
    00:18 Vice Premier: Reoccupying Gaza will hurt Israel more than help it
    00:19 ANALYSIS / Gaza raids met by loud silence from the Arab world
    08:38 Ban: Hezbollah hindering talks on prisoner swap
    22:40 N.Y. Plaza Hotel, co-owned by Israeli and Saudi groups, reopens doors
    20:27 Lebanese TV: Saudi, Kuwait urge nationals to leave Lebanon
    07:53 Israeli tennis star Peer upset in semifinals of Memphis tourney
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