Shas calls for emergency gov't in face of escalating Gaza violence

[bemildred]

Shas Chairman Eli Yishai on Monday called for the formation of an emergency government due to the escalating rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

A senior official in the Military Intelligence said Monday that militants in the Gaza Strip fired 20 Iranian-made Grad-type rockets at southern Israel over the course of the Israel Defense Forces offensive in recent days. Eleven Qassam rockets also struck the western Negev on Monday.

Speaking at a Shas Party meeting, Yishai said "this is a battle for existence. The northern front is not calming down. The diplomatic option is not realistic and is not being considered. I will act to bring about the formation of an emergency national government in order to deal with the problems facing all of us, in a practical way. The security situation is complex and difficult." According to Yishai, "We must hit the terrorists with all our might, and hunt every last one of them down." He explained that the current IDF actions in the Gaza Strip, aimed at stopping the escalating rocket fire on southern Israeli towns, will continue, and could last several months.

Yishai announced that in light of the precarious security situation, Shas has decided to vote with the coalition against the opposition's no confidence vote in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's directive that all construction in East Jerusalem must be authorized by the Prime Minister's Office. Shas had originally intended to vote against the directive, to underscore the importance they place on the issue of Jerusalem and how much they oppose the division of the capital under a potential peace deal with the Palestinians.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/960326.html

[subsuelo]

1. "We must hit the terrorists with all our might"

That's code for more reckless bombing of civilian centers.

Fighting terrorism with more terrorism will not solve anything, though - just my opinion.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. A few questions.

What are these "civilian centers" being " recklessly bombed" you keep mentioning?

Are they still 'civilian centers' when militants are holed up in them firing weapons? If yes, then how should Israel respond?

If sealing their own borders (Israel), economic sanctions and "sonic booms" are "collective punishments," what alternatives does Israel have left? (Remember, at this point, sitting down is not yet an option because of the continuing rocket barrages.)

If the goal is to have talks, why must Israel continue to be assaulted while these talks take place? Should they have a right to respond?

Do you see that if Hamas reigned in its "fighters" and the other loose band of terrorists, then they will show they are being proactive in wanting to discuss issues and Israel can stop being reactive?

[Tom Joad]

3. Most Israelis do indeed support sitting down with Hamas and working for a

cease-fire.
but fools in the USA seem to be intent on supporting military options.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Not what was asked.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vegasaurus]

7. Israelis want the rockets to stop

They support actions to stop the rockets, so they don't have to live in terror 24/7.

[Tom Joad]

8. Israelis and Palestinians don't want to live in terror 24/7

Israel should be willing to sit down with Hamas and make a deal.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Shas are religious-right nuts. They are not what is needed in a crisis like this.

Fortunately, Shas are a small minority party, but the multi-party system in Israel can sometimes give small parties too much control.

[bemildred]

9. I thought it was a great picture of Yishai.

You can just feel what a caring individual he is.