Olmert Must Be Insane

Alert Focus: A Burdensome Stone / A Cup of Trembling Romans 11:25-26 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." Don't stop terror rockets, says Israeli prime minister WORLDNETDAILY - By Aaron Klein - December 25, 2006 -- JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday rejected a plan by military leaders here to allow the Israeli Defense Forces to take out Palestinian militants it catches in the process of launching rockets from the Gaza Strip into nearby Jewish cities, WND has learned. IDF leaders charged Olmert was "damaging" Israeli security. Following a cease-fire imposed in Gaza Nov. 26, Olmert has restrained the IDF from taking any defensive measures to stop the regular firing of Palestinian Qassam rockets into Israeli communities. Since the truce went into effect, nearly 50 rockets were fired from Gaza. Yesterday, the IDF spotted militants in the northern Gaza Strip setting up rocket launchers, military sources told WND. Two rockets then were fired into Israel. One landed near Sderot, a large city about 3 miles from Gaza; the second landed in an open field near Gaza. As WND reported, the IDF several times last week spotted militants in the process of launching rockets but the military was unable to take any action. Olmert's government changed the rules of engagement following the cease-fire. Now, if Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are caught launching rockets at Jewish cities, the Israeli military is forbidden to respond. Previously, the IDF used artillery units and aerial strikes against militants discovered in the process of launching rockets. ... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53501 Olmert decision has military 'up in arms' WORLDNETDAILY - By Aaron Klein - December 26, 2006 -- TEL AVIV -- The Israeli army is "up in arms" regarding an order issued yesterday by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to remove a series of West Bank security checkpoints that regularly stop terrorists from infiltrating Jewish cities, according to military officials. In accordance with promises made to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during a summit this weekend, Olmert instructed the IDF to remove 49 West Bank roadblocks and checkpoints. Twenty-seven roadblocks are to be removed immediately, and the rest within about a week, subject to a final decision by government officials. Olmert also instructed IDF soldiers to not thoroughly examine every vehicle at 16 of the West Bank's largest roadblocks. Vehicle examinations usually cause long delays at the checkpoints. Olmert said the moves were aimed at bolstering Abbas at a time when his Fatah party is engaging in infighting with rival Hamas factions. Abbas last weekend called for new Palestinian elections in a move widely seen as attempting to dismantle the Hamas-led government. Palestinians say the West Bank roadblocks and checkpoints are degrading. They complain of waiting in long lines to pass through West Bank cities. But according to IDF statistics, upwards of 60 percent of all attempted suicide bombings are stopped at the checkpoints. Israeli soldiers routinely catch Palestinians at checkpoints en route to central Israel with explosives or suicide belts. Many of the terrorists are caught during vehicle inspections. At a meeting yesterday, Olmert told the heads of Israel's major security services he hopes the checkpoints will be dismantled by the Muslim holiday of Id al-Adha, which takes place next week.... The Israeli security establishment largely opposes the roadblock removals, saying their dismantlement will likely lead to an increase in terror attacks. ... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53512 Olmert lets army stop terror rockets after boys critically injured WORLDNETDAILY - By Aaron Klein - December 27, 2006 -- TEL AVIV -- After two 14-year old Jewish boys were seriously injured last night by Palestinian rocket fire, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today decided to allow the army to carry out select anti-rocket operations aimed at militants in Gaza discovered in the process of launching projectiles. Since a cease-fire was agreed to 33 days ago, Olmert had been restraining the IDF from taking any measures to stop the regular firing of Palestinian Qassam rockets into Israeli communities, even in cases where the army had the ability to take out launching cells before rockets were fired. Nearly 60 rockets were launched from Gaza the last four weeks. As WND reported the IDF several times last week spotted militants in the process of launching rockets but the military was unable to take any action. Olmert's government changed the rules of engagement following the cease-fire, forbidding the Israeli army from responding to Palestinians caught launching rockets at Jewish cities. Previously, the IDF used artillery units and aerial strikes against militants discovered in the process of launching rockets. Military leaders, including Defense Minister Amir Peretz, petitioned Olmert the past three weeks to allow the IDF to take out Palestinian rocket crews, but to no avail. One military official, speaking to WND last week, warned Israelis would be hurt or killed by Israel's failure to stop the rockets. ... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53527 FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of religious, environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. 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