Egyptian official: Israel, Gaza agree to cease-fire

[JEDIYoda]

So why is not the UN Secretary General calling for maximum restraint from those firing the missles into Israel??
What about maximum restraint out of Gaza.....Hamas can stop this if they want to......

More bias against Israel.......go figure....



http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-12/...d-exercise-maximum-restraint?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST

After days of pounding violence, Palestinian and Israeli authorities have agreed to a truce and to stop all military operations, an Egyptian intelligence official told CNN early Tuesday.

The agreement was reached with the help of Egyptian mediators, the official said.

Israeli government spokesman David Baker did not immediately comment on the reported cease-fire.

Seven people were killed Monday in Gaza, and more than three dozen rockets fell into Israel, the latest events in days of fighting that marked the worst escalation of violence in the coastal territory in months, officials said.

Israel said its airstrikes have targeted militant rocket launching sites across the Palestinian territory in response to more than 200 rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel since Friday. More than 36 rockets were fired into Israel on Monday, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said

In Gaza, at least 25 people have been killed in strikes since Friday, while at least 80 people have been wounded.

"When I was sleeping, all of a sudden I found the entire house falling on top of us," Gaza resident Samer Sukar said from a hospital bed. "What can I say? There was no rocket fire from near our house."

Sukar said he was injured in a blast Monday while he was at home with his wife and six children.

Meanwhile, in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, residents took cover.

"It's a very difficult time for us," said Eti Ifrah, 23. "It's impossible to live like this -- every time we want a shower or anything we're worried a bomb will fall."

Nearly 1 million people in Israel have sought the safety of shelters during the violence, authorities said.

The fighting is the worst outbreak of violence in Gaza this year and comes as Israel and the world's attention has been largely focused on Iran and Syria.

"I am gravely concerned at the latest escalation between Gaza and Israel, and once again civilians are paying a terrible price," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Monday. "Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately. I reiterate my call on Israel to exercise maximum restraint."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers Monday that the military "is ready to expand its operations and continue them as necessary."

"The (Israeli military) is continuing to -- strongly and decisively -- attack the terrorists in the Gaza Strip," he said. "Whoever intends to harm our citizens -- we will strike at him."

 

[cybrsage]

No other nation would allow a people to continually fire rockets into their nation...

 

[Karl Agathon]

No other nation would allow a people to continually fire rockets into their nation...

Israelis aren't allowed to defend themselves.

 

[Kadarin]

This cease fire will last for a very short period of time, until the Palestinians decide to fire rockets into Israel again. When Israel responds, the same Palestinians will cry foul and play the victim.

 

[Throckmorton]

Interesting how you bolded the part where he called on Israel to exercise restraint, but not where he said rocket attacks out of Gaza had to stop.

"I am gravely concerned at the latest escalation between Gaza and Israel, and once again civilians are paying a terrible price," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Monday. "Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately. I reiterate my call on Israel to exercise maximum restraint."

 

[glenn1]

The Gazans must be out of ammunition and agreed to a "cease fire" to have time to rearm.

 

[MotF Bane]

This cease fire will last for a very short period of time, until the Palestinians decide to fire rockets into Israel again. When Israel responds, the same Palestinians will cry foul and play the victim.

This.

 

[Jhhnn]

This cease fire will last for a very short period of time, until the Palestinians decide to fire rockets into Israel again. When Israel responds, the same Palestinians will cry foul and play the victim.

You seem to forget that it was the Israelis who initiated the current round of violence with an assassination in Gaza City...

 

[Jhhnn]

No other nation would allow a people to continually fire rockets into their nation...

And no other nation would accept assassination of their citizens on their own territory, either...

 

[blankslate]

Interesting how you bolded the part where he called on Israel to exercise restraint, but not where he said rocket attacks out of Gaza had to stop.

"I am gravely concerned at the latest escalation between Gaza and Israel, and once again civilians are paying a terrible price," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement Monday. "Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately. I reiterate my call on Israel to exercise maximum restraint."
__________________

I find this interesting too. Obviously the Secretary General was calling for both sides to draw back but the poster only bolded the part where he mentioned Israel...

In any case this is a good development... while it lasts.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I find this interesting too. Obviously the Secretary General was calling for both sides to draw back but the poster only bolded the part where he mentioned Israel...

In any case this is a good development... while it lasts.

asking a Israel to exercise maximum restraint and then saying that Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately.

That is hardly the same as asking Israel to exercise maximum restraint!!

Cal a spade a spade....tell Hamas to knock the shit off!!

Hamas can stop it!!

Unlike others such as jhhnn I posted the whole article instead of just what I thought would support my position.

You can read so people quit crying and read!!!

 

[blankslate]

asking a Israel to exercise maximum restraint and then saying that Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately.

That is hardly the same as asking Israel to exercise maximum restraint!!

Cal a spade a spade....tell Hamas to knock the shit off!!

Hamas can stop it!!

Unlike others such as jhhnn I posted the whole article instead of just what I thought would support my position.

You can read so people quit crying and read!!!

I am reading and noticed that the Secretary General of the U.N. called out the Palestinian's first.

Maybe you should consider this since you seem to have forgeten it in your zeal... Israel has the superior military force and has demonstrated in the past that if they choose to enter Palestinian territory the Palestinians just cannot stop them.

The fact that Israel is capable of exercising much greater military force against the Palestinians than vice versa maybe the reason that those words were chosen. However, from your posts in the past I'm sure that you think any admonishment aimed toward Israel is just beyond the pale.

I wouldn't be surprised if you would rather have had Ban Ki-moon say "Palestinians stop it it NOW!! Or we will have no choice but to authorize the use of nuclear weapons upon you foul villains!"

 

[JEDIYoda]

I am reading and noticed that the Secretary General of the U.N. called out the Palestinian's first. -- did he...who exactly did he call out?? He mentioned nobody in particular or any group by name.....did he???

Maybe you should consider this since you seem to have forgeten it in your zeal... Israel has the superior military force and has demonstrated in the past that if they choose to enter Palestinian territory the Palestinians just cannot stop them. --- then perhaps the other side should`nt be taunting the tiger.....

The fact that Israel is capable of exercising much greater military force against the Palestinians than vice versa maybe the reason that those words were chosen. However, from your posts in the past I'm sure that you think any admonishment aimed toward Israel is just beyond the pale. -- no I would agree that israel should be asked to show restraint...But nowhere in that article did the Secretary general of the UN mention any group on the other side....

I wouldn't be surprised if you would rather have had Ban Ki-moon say "Palestinians stop it it NOW!! Or we will have no choice but to authorize the use of nuclear weapons upon you foul villains!" -- thats not very smart...but he could have asked Hamas to stop whoever is firing of the rockets....Hamas can stop then if they desire too....

 

[blankslate]

did he...who exactly did he call out?? He mentioned nobody in particular or any group by name.....did he???

He called out the group in Gaza that is launching the rockets. One possible reason that a specific group wasn't mentioned could be that they're not sure if Hamas' leadership ordered the start of the rocket attacks or if some members took initiative on their own

then perhaps the other side should`nt be taunting the tiger.....

Trite and moronic. You are awarded no points and may god have mercy on your soul...

no I would agree that israel should be asked to show restraint...But nowhere in that article did the Secretary general of the UN mention any group on the other side...

As stated previously (unfortunately) it's probably unknown if the people launching the rockets are actually obeying the Palestinian authority.

thats not very smart...but he could have asked Hamas to stop whoever is firing of the rockets....Hamas can stop then if they desire too....

"Rocket attacks out of Gaza against Israeli civilian areas are unacceptable and must stop immediately." From the article that you posted he did state that the rocket attacks should stop.

Given that a truce was brokered with Egypt's help at least the violence will stop... even if only (very likely unfortunately) temporarily.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

This shouldn't even be news anymore. You could set the tides and the sun-rise by the regularity of these cease-fires/conflicts. I wish we would see less Israel/Gaza shit in the news overall, so Israel can finally solve the Palestinian problem in peace.

 

[cybrsage]

And no other nation would accept assassination of their citizens on their own territory, either...

Sure they do, they accept the US doing it all the time.

That said, the Palestinians were firing rockets into Israel prior to this attack. Are you honestly saying HAMAS stopped the rocket attacks into Israel this year? I hope not:

January
In January, according to the Israel Security Agency's monthly summary, Palestinians fired 9 rockets and 7 mortar shells at Israel in 14 separate attacks.[1]
January 1 Palestinians fired two mortar shells containing phosphorus into Eshkol Regional Council. The shells landed in open fields, causing no injuries or damage.[2] The Eshkol Regional Council filed a formal complaint with the United Nations, noting that the Geneva Conventions prohibit the use of phosphorus against civilians.[3]
January 19 After nightfall, Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket into the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[4]
January 21 Overnight, Palestinians fired three mortar shells into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage. In response to the attack, an Israeli Air Force helicopter immediately struck a group of terrorists in the Rafah area.[5][6]
January 22 Palestinians fired a rocket into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[7] In response to this attack and previous ones, Israel carried out air strikes on a weapons factory in the central Gaza Strip, two tunnels in the northern Strip and one tunnel in southern Gaza, causing no injuries.[8][9]
January 24I n the afternoon, Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[10]

February
In February, according to the Israel Security Agency's monthly summary, Palestinians launched 36 rockets and 1 mortar shell at Israel in 28 separate attacks.[11]
February 1 Between about 6:30 and 9:16 pm, Palestinians fired 8 rockets into the Shaar Hanegev and Ashkelon Coast regional councils, causing no injuries or damage. Local residents were instructed to stay within 15 seconds of bomb shelters in case of additional attacks. Israeli security officials estimated that the attacks were so timed because of the stormy weather, which limits the effectiveness of rocket detection systems.[12][13][14] Next day, Israeli warplanes struck six targets in Gaza in response to previous rocket attacks, hitting two weapons storage facilities, three tunnels used for terror activities and a weapons manufacturing facility.[15]
February 6 Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket into the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage. The Color Red alarm sounded near in the area prior to the explosion.[16]
February 10 After nightfall, Palestinian terrorists fired a rocket into a community in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council. The rocket exploded between two homes, sending shrapnel that penetrated one of the homes while civilians were sitting in the living room. The rocket also damaged an electrical pole, cutting off power. No injuries were reported.[17]
February 11 Palestinians fired a rocket into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[18] Israel responded to the attack and to the previous one with air strikes on three tunnels used for terror activity – in the south, center and north of the Gaza Strip – and a weapons manufacturing facility in the north. Officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said that one civilian man was killed and another was wounded.[19]
February 15 Palestinians fired five rockets at Israel. Two rockets exploded in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, two more fell in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council, and a fifth fell in the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported. In response, the Israeli Air Force struck two targets in the Gaza Strip: a Hamas militant site in Gaza City, and a Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant site in Nuseirat.[20][21] France condemned both the Palestinian attacks and the Israeli response.[22]
February 17 Palestinians took advantage of the stormy weather, which hinders Israeli rocket warning systems, and fired two rockets into Israel. One landed in the Eshkol Regional Council, and the other hit the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council, south of Ashkelon. Later, Palestinians fired an additional rocket into the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported in any of the attacks.[23][24]
February 18 With the stormy weather continuing, at about 11:30 am Palestinian terrorists fired a Grad rocket at Beersheba; the projectile landed outside the city. Sirens sounded in Beersheba and the Bnei Shimon Regional Council, and residents entered shelters.[25][26]
Palestinian terrorists later fired a rocket toward Israel, but it exploded instead on a Palestinian home in the Gaza Strip, causing no injuries.[27]
Israel responded to recent attacks with an air strike on a weapons manufacturing site in the Gaza Strip.[28]
February 19 After nightfall, Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets into the Sdot Negev Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[29]
February 21 After nightfall, Palestinians fired a mortar shell into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[30]
February 23 Palestinians fired two Qassam rockets into the Sha'ar Hanegev and Eshkol regional councils, causing no injuries or damage. Residents of the former said that the Color Red alarm sounded only seconds before the rocket exploded, and some did not manage to reach rocket shelters in time.[31][32][33]
February 24 At about 1 am, a Palestinian terrorist cell attempting to fire rockets at Israel was thwarted when an IAF jet fired at it. Palestinian sources said that two people were injured.[34] At about 2:30 am, Palestinians terrorists fired two rockets into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage. Israel responded with air strikes on two terror targets in the northern Gaza Strip.[34][35][34][32][33]
February 25 In the evening, Palestinian terrorists fired two Qassam rockets at Ashkelon. One landed in an open area within the city, and the other landed in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council. After nightfall, a third Qassam rocket landed in the southern Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported in any of the attacks. In response, IAF aircraft targeted a weapons-manufacturing site and a smuggling tunnel in southern Gaza Strip, causing no injuries.[36][37][38][39][40][41]
February 26 In the morning, Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[42]
February 28 Palestinians fired a rocket into the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council, near Ashkelon, causing no injuries or damage. The Color Red alarm sounded in the region.[43][44]
Israel sent a demonstratively terse letter of protest to the United Nations, saying: "Ten days, ten rockets and not one condemnation".[45]

March
March 1 Palestinians fired three rockets toward Ashkelon. The projectiles landed in the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[46]
March 2 Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[47]
March 3 After nightfall, Palestinians fired a Qassam rocket into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[48]
March 8 On the morning of the Jewish holiday of Purim, Palestinians fired a mortar shell into the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.[49]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2012

This is the list of rocket attacks BEFORE the Israelis struck back. They struck back on March 9, the day after the mortar shell attack on a Jewish Holy Day. FIFTY-NINE rocket and mortar attacks in barely over 2 months. Yet you, and most of the world, say that Israel started the conflict on March 9th....

 

[EagleKeeper]

Israeli actions always become the base timeline for Palestinian PR

 

[Jaskalas]

This cease fire will last for a very short period of time, until the Palestinians decide to fire rockets into Israel again. When Israel responds, the same Palestinians will cry foul and play the victim.

We let them. It's to their advantage so why shouldn't they?

 

[zsdersw]

I remain convinced that both Israel and the Palestinians have more to gain from perpetual conflict/fighting than from peace... whether in the form of a two-state solution or anything else. As a result, nothing will change.

 

[blankslate]

I remain convinced that both Israel and the Palestinians have more to gain from perpetual conflict/fighting than from peace... whether in the form of a two-state solution or anything else. As a result, nothing will change.

Interesting opinion I think I can see some of it. If both sides can make the case that they are under threat from the other then they will get sympathy and aid from outside powers... is this what you're getting at?

I'm not sure I agree but it's an provocative hypothesis.

 

[zsdersw]

Interesting opinion I think I can see some of it. If both sides can make the case that they are under threat from the other then they will get sympathy and aid from outside powers... is this what you're getting at?

I'm not sure I agree but it's an provocative hypothesis.

Yes it is. They're both locked into self-imposed victimhood.

 

[blankslate]

Yes it is. They're both locked into self-imposed victimhood.

Like I said a provocative hypothesis... worth keeping in the back of the mind when seeing what they say about (or do to) each other I suppose.

 

[Lemon law]

We are not considering something here.

the folks in Gaza who are firing missiles in Gaza are basically Islamic jihad and not Hamas controlled groups. Yet Israel has an ongoing assassination program for Hamas leaders. Meaning Hamas is less effective at governance, allowing other Stateless terrorist groups to use the area of Gaza and Egypt to launch Rockets at Israel. And as Egypt and other Arab nations get more PO'd at Israel, the Egyptian part of the economic embargo of Palestinians is no longer being enforced, making bit easier for terrorists in Gaza to build more missiles with longer ranges.

Yet if Israel quits assassinating Hamas officials, it would give Hamas the chance to get rid of foreign terrorists groups, and forge a peace based on a cease fire similar to Lebanon. And then the shattered Gaza civilian economy could recover.

But Israel does not want that type peace, Israel would rather stir up violence and then claim they are the victims.

 

[Karl Agathon]

I would like to commend most of the posters in this thread attempting to at least look at this through nuanced eyes.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Hamas controls Gaza. Other groups ask permission to sneeze. All access points are monitored by Hamas; they know who is smuggling what through the tunnels ending in Egypt.

When Hamas stops plotting against Israel, then the target killings will stop.

By Hamas allowing other groups to shoot at Israel, it provides a transparent cloak of deniability. "We are sorry but it was not our group. <chuckle, chuckle>"