- Oct 30, 2000
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Backing tough talk, Israeli premier wages 1st war
Palestinian supporters that make predictions need to stop eating those 'shrooms' and face reality.
The only way to stop the rocket fire is to eliminate those that are firing and also the supply lines.
One can also wonder how that amount of munitions were smuggled into Gaza?
Food trucks, tunnels or Egyptian complicity.
And Hezbollah may be about ready to enter the fray
Lebanese army dismantles rockets aimed at Israel
But only now, after seven years in power, he has finally pulled the trigger, unleashing an offensive to stop Gaza rocket salvos. The public and even his political opponents have all lined up behind him.
Barring a fiasco involving heavy Israeli casualties, the operation should help Netanyahu coast to victory in the upcoming Israeli elections.
Palestinian supporters that make predictions need to stop eating those 'shrooms' and face reality.
For months, Netanyahu refrained from major retaliation against rocket attacks from Gaza against southern Israel. Kristal said he ultimately gave the order only after a public outcry and after making sure the top military brass supported the move.
Netanyahu claims he has never before had to act militarily, since his tough stance has deterred Israel's enemies from testing him. Moshe Arens, Netanyahu's onetime political mentor, said this time Hamas aggression toward Israel forced his hand.
So far, the public has been overwhelmingly behind them. A Dialog poll published Monday in the Haaretz daily said 84 percent of Israelis supported the offensive, and 55 percent approved of Netanyahu's performance, a big boost from his previous numbers. The poll surveyed 520 Israelis and had a margin of error of 4.4 percent.
With Israeli elections just two months away, Netanyahu was already far ahead in the polls. The Gaza offensive has boosted his numbers further. According to Monday's Haaretz poll, Netanyahu's Likud Party would be the largest party in parliament and would have no trouble putting together another ruling coalition.
His popularity could take a beating if a ground operation goes awry or, alternatively, if he is perceived to have halted the campaign before reaching its goal the end of rocket fire toward southern Israel.
The only way to stop the rocket fire is to eliminate those that are firing and also the supply lines.
One can also wonder how that amount of munitions were smuggled into Gaza?
Food trucks, tunnels or Egyptian complicity.
And Hezbollah may be about ready to enter the fray
Lebanese army dismantles rockets aimed at Israel