14 Nov 12: Israel Launches Operations in Gaza

[muskrat89]

Couldn't find an "Israel Superthread"...

Lots of stuff going on in the Mideast

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/us-palestinians-israel-hamas-idUSBRE8AD0WP20121114

http://freebeacon.com/its-war/

http://freebeacon.com/iran-mounts-massive-drills/

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=291816

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/hamas-military-chief-ahmed-jabari-killed-by-israeli-strike.premium-1.477819

 

[ModlrMike]

Well, that's going to drive Rabble.ca insane!  >

 

[medicineman]

Well, that's going to drive Rabble.ca insane!  >

Can't make them worse than they already are...oops, inside voice  ;D

MM

 

[Edward Campbell]

The IDF says:

 

[The Bread Guy]

And if you want to follow the latest via the IDF's blog ....
http://www.idfblog.com/2012/11/14/live-updates-idf-terror-targets-gaza/

 

[gun runner]

I wonder if this will explode into a regional conflict, instead of a Syrian civil war. This is gonna get crazy.

 

[GAP]

Maybe Hamas at the bequest of Iran and Syria are purposely stiring things up....if Isreal can be taunted into a massive response, focus is taken off of Assad's plight....

 

[jollyjacktar]

Well, that's going to drive Rabble.ca insane!  >

Just went there to have a peek at the site.  They've mis-named it.  It should be called "HardwareStore.ca", because I've never seen such a massive  collection of tools in one place.  :facepalm:

 

[Edward Campbell]

The wire services are reporting that the Israeli Ambassador to Egypt is leaving Cairo; he was called in by the foreign ministry for the (usual) condemnation and, for unknown reasons, is returning to Jerusalem. It does not appear that he is being expelled, nor that he is being, formally, withdrawn, but it's not a good sign.

 

[Edward Campbell]

And, same source: Egypt is recaling its Ambassador to Israel. Now, in diplomatic terms, that is serious.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Gun camera footage of strike in story.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2232937/Israeli-airstrike-kills-Hamas-military-chief-Gaza-sparking-fears-new-war.html

 

[Retired AF Guy]

What most commentators are missing is the amazing intelligence collection the Israeli's are capable of; even in the heart of enemy territory. The Israeli's knew what type of vehicle Jabri was driving, where he was going to be and what time he would driving down such and such street. 

One comment. Watched the video of the strike that took out Jabri. I didn't see any missile/bomb streaking in to hit the vehicle. Plus, it wasn't a really big explosion, not what you would normally expect from a PGM or Hellfire missile; possible car bomb?? Just speculating.

 

[57Chevy]

With thanks to Google and wikipedia and shared with usual provisions:

Operation Pillar of Cloud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pillar_of_Cloud

 

[Edward Campbell]

What most commentators are missing is the amazing intelligence collection the Israeli's are capable of; even in the heart of enemy territory. The Israeli's knew what type of vehicle Jabri was driving, where he was going to be and what time he would driving down such and such street. 
...

Also not commented upon is the Arab/Hamas treachery which gives Israeli intelligence such priceless information. Every Arab (and Persian and West Asian and North African) leader ~ president or terrorist, king or usurper, must go to bed every night wondering which of his inner circle is betraying him, right now, to the hated Israelis ... Paranoia!  :nod:

 

[Nemo888]

Are the attacks on Gaza meant to be a message to Obama? The timing is a bit suspicious.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Are the attacks on Gaza meant to be a message to Obama? The timing is a bit suspicious.

Obama's emerging foreign policy towards the Middle East is just collateral damage, I think. Jabari was always a high priority target and my guess is that when a clear shot was available the political considerations were near zero. It's no secret that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dislikes President Obama and mistrusts his policy intentions but Israel still needs American support - military, diplomatic and political - for its longer term programme.

My guess is that Israel actually welcomes renewed hostilities with Hamas, and not just because they finally got Ahmed Jabari; Israel wants the US led West to accept its view that Gaza is not a Palestinian province, populated by "innocent civilians," rather it is a huge military base, where many civilians live and work, from which attacks are launched against Israel. Israel would like to turn Gaza into a modern day Carthage - an Israeli place which, like ancient Carthage under the Romans, can be rehabilitated into a thriving, Jewish, seaport and region.

 

[57Chevy]

Exactly ER    (* ref your reply #13)
Sometimes the friends of your enemy are also friendly with some of your friends.
Intel in that area can never be considered futile.

possible car bomb??

From whatever it is in the video that is flying almost straight up from the point of detonation,
I would say more than likely.
I also think that it was possibly detonated remotely from either one or both of those two white vans seen in the footage.
The timing is incredible.


* poured myself a coffee 

 

[Edward Campbell]

An interesting graphic from the IDF (via Google+):

 

[The Bread Guy]

With thanks to Google and wikipedia and shared with usual provisions:

Operation Pillar of Cloud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Pillar_of_Cloud

While the IDF English-language blog calls the Op "Pillar of Defence" - more on multi-naming and Biblical references therein here at zenpundit.com.

 

[Edward Campbell]

According to YNet, an Israeli online news source, Home Front Command asks local authorities to prepare for seven-week fighting period: "In discussions held between Home Front Command Chief Major-General Eyal Eisenberg, regional commanders and heads of local authorities in the center and in the south, authorities have been instructed to prepare for a seven-week period of combat as part of Operation Pillar of Defense and to prepare emergency supplies, accordingly."

Seven weeks would take us about the end of the year 2012, by our calendar.