Last week, on Christmas Eve, the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza approved a new bill “to implement Quranic punishments,” including crucifixion, corporal punishment and execution.

Section 59 of the law establishes that “punishment of death will be enacted on any Palestinian who intentionally does one of the following: Raised a weapon against Palestine on behalf of the enemy during war, was appointed to negotiate with a foreign government on a Palestinian issue and negotiated against Palestinians’ interest, performed a hostile action against a foreign country in a way that endangers Palestine in war or in harming political relations, served a foreign army in time of war, advised or helped soldiers to enlist in this army, weakened the spirit or the force of resistance of the people, or spied against Palestine especially during war.”

The Arabic language newspaper al-Hayat of London reported this on Christmas Eve, noting that this step is seen as “unprecedented, and has brought criticism and concern from human rights organizations in the Gaza Strip.”

These revelations were made by the Palestinian Media Watch group, which follows and analyzes Palestinian agencies and institutions.

These are the arguments that are currently being discussed in the Israeli public domain against any large-scale Israeli military operation in Gaza:

1. The Lebanon trauma: Fear of an entanglement. One knows how operations of that sort begin, but one doesn’t always know how they end.

2. High casualty figures: Hamas is well prepared. According to every scenario, a major incursion into the Gaza Strip will result in numerous Israeli military and civilian casualties.

3. International Pressure: Israel knows that the world will not sit idly by in the event of a major operation in Gaza, certainly not after the first mishap in which children are killed.

4. Israeli POW Gilad Shalit: Security officials are worried that Shalit’s captors might bring harm to him in the event of an IDF invasion of Gaza.

5. Ineffectiveness: What will happen after the major operation is over? Firing Kassam rockets is simple and it is almost impossible to prevent it.

These are the arguments currently being discussed in the Israeli public domain in favor of a large-scale operation in Gaza:

1. Suffering Israeli population: How much longer can the residents of
Sderot and other Gaza periphery communities be expected to live under
the threat of Kassam rocket and mortar shell fire?

2. Israeli deterrence: Hamas has violated the truce agreement, has been
firing Kassam rockets with impunity, while the IDF is perceived as an
army that is afraid to act.

3. Future casualties: We needn’t wait until a Kassam rocket actually
kills a lot of people. The decision to act can be made now.

4. The U.S. administration: Israel would do well were it to begin an operation while President Bush is still in office rather than pose a challenge to Barack Obama, who will assume office on Jan. 20.

5. The right to sovereignty: There probably isn’t a country in the world
that would permit a terror organization to fire rockets into its
sovereign territory. 



David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com.

The Hamas regime in Gaza shelled Sderot and the Western Negev 55 times between yesterday and Saturday.

Yesterday morning, one of those shells devastated a home in Sderot.

Maya Iber, the homeowner who was also hurt, described the attack.

“I was sitting there in the corner; I heard everything moving and a loud boom, I shut my eyes, and when I opened them, the whole house was full of smoke,” Ms. Iber said. “Afterwards I understood that it hit my home. A person builds a home, and then can’t receive children or grandchildren, how is this possible? Now I want to leave the city.”

Also yesterday morning, a young worker from Thailand sustained light injuries from shrapnel in Moshav Netiv Haasara near Gaza, from a mortar shell that exploded in one of the farm greenhouses, where damage also caused to the green houses.

During these attacks, the Israel Air Force sought out and two rocket launch crew in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

At yesterday’s cabinet meeting, the cabinet discussed the deteriorating situation in southern Israel. Most of the ministers supported a large-scale military operation in Gaza.

However, the Israeli Army chief of staff and the Israel Defense Minister proposed only a limited response.

Speaking on Israel Army Radio, Israel security cabinet member Minister Yitzhak Herzog justified the defense minister’s policy: “We have to be those who will choose the precise timing, location and manner of the operation. It may be difficult, but we have to clench our teeth, and we will eventually reach the moment of the suitable response that will lead to the solution we want.”

Israel Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, former Israel Minister of Defense and former Israel Army Commander in Chief, launched a vociferous attack on Israel Defense Minister Barak: “The person sitting in the 14th floor of the Defense Ministry should rid himself of the illusion that this truce is good for Israel, and should take action. Are we waiting for children to be killed? For people to be injured?”

Commenting on the situation, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror wrote in the Yisrael HaYom newspaper that “we are now paying the price for the abandonment of Gaza. The abandonment began in 1994 following the Oslo Accords, which led to a significant reduction in the IDF’s ability to prevent fire from the Gaza Strip and smuggling under Philadelphi Road. The abandonment was completed in 2005 by an irresponsible act known as unilateral withdrawal, which led to the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas and the buildup of Hamas as a real military force, which threatens the entire southern part of the State of Israel.”

A Kadima member of Knesset, Shai Hermesh, former regional mayor of the Shaar Hanegev regional council near Gaza, added in the same Israeli paper that “the residents of Sderot and the Gaza perimeter are wondering when the government lost its sovereignty over the region where we came to build our home. The government’s top security officials engage in empty talk, while the Hamas militiamen sit opposite us, scornfully firing.”

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert added “it is no secret that last June, we decided on the cease fire agreement; we did so with more than a few doubts and hesitations. The State of Israel has always hoped for and wanted quiet for the residents of the south and that they should enjoy genuine calm and be free of the threat of unceasing Kassam and mortar attacks that have disrupted life in the south for a very long period. Naturally, we also wanted the absolute cessation of all other acts of terrorism and weapons smuggling. It was on this basis, with more than a little hesitation, but out of the assessment that this was the way to act responsibly, we decided then to act toward the selfsame calm. It was clear that this calm could exist only as long as it was upheld.

“The calm could exist only as long as it was administered by both sides and not with one side relentlessly launching Kassams and mortars, thus repeatedly disrupting residents’ daily lives…

“The scenarios are clear. The plans are clear. The determination is clear, as is the significance of each step. A responsible government is neither eager for battle, nor does it shy away from it. The State of Israel will know when to respond correctly and with the necessary responsibility.”

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com .

The Hamas regime in Gaza fired rockets at Sderot and the Western Negev 55 times between yesterday and Saturday.

Yesterday morning, one of those shells devastated a home in Sderot.

Maya Iber, the homeowner who was also hurt, described the attack.

“I was sitting there in the corner; I heard everything moving and a loud boom, I shut my eyes, and when I opened them, the whole house was full of smoke,” Ms. Iber said. “Afterwards I understood that it hit my home. A person builds a home, and then can’t receive children or grandchildren, how is this possible? Now I want to leave the city.”

Also yesterday morning, a young worker from Thailand sustained light injuries from shrapnel in Moshav Netiv Haasara near Gaza, from a mortar shell that exploded in one of the farm greenhouses, where damage also caused to the green houses.

During these attacks, the Israel Air Force sought out and two rocket launch crew in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

At yesterday’s cabinet meeting, the cabinet discussed the deteriorating situation in southern Israel. Most of the ministers supported a large-scale military operation in Gaza.

However, the Israeli Army chief of staff and the Israel Defense Minister proposed only a limited response.

Speaking on Israel Army Radio, Israel security cabinet member Minister Yitzhak Herzog justified the defense minister’s policy: “We have to be those who will choose the precise timing, location and manner of the operation. It may be difficult, but we have to clench our teeth, and we will eventually reach the moment of the suitable response that will lead to the solution we want.”

Israel Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, former Israel Minister of Defense and former Israel Army Commander in Chief, launched a vociferous attack on Israel Defense Minister Barak: “The person sitting in the 14th floor of the Defense Ministry should rid himself of the illusion that this truce is good for Israel and should take action. Are we waiting for children to be killed? For people to be injured?”

Commenting on the situation, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror wrote in the Yisrael HaYom newspaper that “we are now paying the price for the abandonment of Gaza. The abandonment began in 1994 following the Oslo Accords, which led to a significant reduction in the IDF’s ability to prevent fire from the Gaza Strip and smuggling under Philadelphi Road. The abandonment was completed in 2005 by an irresponsible act known as unilateral withdrawal, which led to the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas and the buildup of Hamas as a real military force, which threatens the entire southern part of the State of Israel.”

A Kadima member of the Knesset, Shai Hermesh, former regional mayor of the Shaar Hanegev regional council near Gaza, added in the same Israeli paper that “the residents of Sderot and the Gaza perimeter are wondering when the government lost its sovereignty over the region where we came to build our home. The government’s top security officials engage in empty talk, while the Hamas militiamen sit opposite us, scornfully firing.”

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert added “it is no secret that last June, we decided on the cease fire agreement; we did so with more than a few doubts and hesitations. The State of Israel has always hoped for and wanted quiet for the residents of the south and that they should enjoy genuine calm and be free of the threat of unceasing Qassam and mortar attacks that have disrupted life in the south for a very long period. Naturally, we also wanted the absolute cessation of all other acts of terrorism and weapons smuggling. It was on this basis, with more than a little hesitation, but out of the assessment that this was the way to act responsibly, we decided then to act toward the selfsame calm. It was clear that this calm could exist only as long as it was upheld.

“The calm could exist only as long as it was administered by both sides and not with one side relentlessly launching Qassams and mortars, thus repeatedly disrupting residents’ daily lives…

“The scenarios are clear. The plans are clear. The determination is clear, as is the significance of each step. A responsible government is neither eager for battle, nor does it shy away from it. The State of Israel will know when to respond correctly and with the necessary responsibility.”

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com.

The expression “Hanukkah miracle” was heard more than once on Thursday in the communities of the western Negev region of Israel.

A Kassam rocket fired on Wednesday evening at Sderot – one of many-landed in the bustling commercial center.

No one was killed or badly hurt. Three people sustained light injuries and nine suffered from shock.

The Palestinian terror organizations Thursday gave residents of southern Israel a “first taste” of what is liable to happen when the “truce” ends this weekend.

Palestinian shelling began in the early morning hours of Wednesday when seven Kassam rockets broke the sleep of the residents of the Eshkol Regional Council. One fell in a greenhouse and caused light damage. No one was injured. Later a mortar shell fell in the Nahal Oz area; another Kassam rocket landed south of Ashkelon, and two people were taken to Barzilai Hospital with ear infection; another rocket landed between Kibbutz Netiv Haasara and Kibbutz Yad Mordechai and another Kassam rocket fell near Miflasim.

At about 4 p.m., four Kassam rockets were fired at the communities of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. All fell in open areas. The Israel Air Force fired at the launchers in Beit Hanoun and destroyed them.

At 5 p.m., Islamic Jihad terrorists fired a 115-caliber Kassam rocket from north of the Gaza Strip that landed in the parking lot of the Victory Supermarket at Sderot’s bustling Peretz shopping Center which was full of people.

Only seven feet separated the place where the Kassam rocket fell and the entrance to the supermarket. The rocket caused great damage outside and inside the supermarket. Inside many wine bottles could be seen shattered and strewn on the floor along with shards from the plate glass windows.

Some of the cashiers and the many customers at the supermarket panicked and cried, seeking family members with concern.

Outside the supermarket, there were scenes of hysteria, when people what realized what a miracle had happened.

Many cars parked in the lot were badly damaged and there was a strong smell of gasoline fumes in the air.

Many people talked about a Hanukkah miracle because after the panic had subsided, it turned out that only three people had sustained light injuries from shards and were taken to Barzilai Hospital.

As the truce was about to end, Sderot Mayor David Buskila, declared there never was a truce.

“I’m surprised by everyone’s surprise, there never was a truce, every day we took Kassams. What are we waiting for? I feel that all these threats have turned the state into a joke, our power of deterrence is at a low. We have to be prescient and foresee events,” he said.

Mr. Buskila added: “The state has to give its residents a sense of security. The only message that I get from the prime minister and defense minister is stuttering and indecision. When, God forbid, someone is hit and there are funerals, I won’t let them in to the city.”

As of Thursday evening, the Israel Army spokesman confirmed there had been 418 attacks from Gaza during the six months that were described as a truce, with little Israeli response.

IDF’S Response: There Are Plans, There Is No Action

Despite the rocket fire at Sderot on Thursday, the Israeli army is still not preparing to respond. Defense Minister Ehud Barak is continuing to give the truce a chance despite Hamas’ declarations that it will be over Friday.

Hamas issued a statement on Thursday stating that “Friday is the last day of the ‘tahdia’ (the Arabic word for ‘truce’). From that date, Hamas maintains the right to defend the Palestinian people and will respond to any Israeli action.”

Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared that “we are not deterred from large-scale action in Gaza, but we’re not rushing into such action. When the situation requires us to act, we’ll act. We will decide what is the best way at every stage, what place and at what time. I suggest that we leave these considerations to the political echelon.”

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said, “there cannot be a situation in which there is agreement on a truce but the reality on the ground is completely different. Naturally this requires our attention-and such attention will be given.”

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni declared that her strategic goal, if and when she becomes prime minister, will be to topple the Hamas regime in Gaza.

However, all this is words. The Israeli government is taking no action at the present time.

In a press conference held in Sderot on Thursday under the auspices of the Sderot Media Center, which operates under the auspices of the Sderot Information Center for the Western Negev, Shai Hermesh. a Knesset Parliament member of Kadima, the ruling Israeli political party, made an incisive comment to the media.

According to Mr. Hermesh’s understanding, there will be no Israeli military response to what is transpiring in Gaza, until after the Israeli national elections, set for Feb. 10, 2009.

Mr. Hermesh declared that no Israeli government will launch any military action during a political campaign.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com

Syria has given Turkish mediators a document containing six points that demand a complete Israeli withdrawal from disputed territory. The document indicates the Syrians are insisting on having access to the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee in the disputed Golan Heights. Israel captured the strategic piece of Syrian territory during the 1967 Six-Day War and has held it ever since.

Prior to its capture, Syria had used the area to shell Israel.

According to reports, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government awaits Israel’s answers, which will be conferred by the Turkish mediators. A Syrian official reportedly told the Turks it would be possible to sign a peace agreement between the two countries by the middle of 2009 should Israel agree to Syria’s terms.

Senior political officials in Jerusalem said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was very interested in promoting the talks with the Syrians and is moving toward direct talks. Mr. Olmert has held a number of intensive meetings with the Turks and has phoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan several times.

Mr. Olmert remains in constant contact with Dr. Yoram Turbowicz, whom he appointed to coordinate the talks with the Syrians. As best as can be ascertained, Mr. Olmert has voiced his willingness in principle to withdraw from the Golan Heights and return to the 1967 borders. This, however, would depend on Syria’s willingness was prepared to sever its ties with Iran and Hezbollah.

Israel formally annexed the Golan Heights in December 1981.

Syrian officials have previously said it would not relinquish its claims on the Upper Galilee region even if Israel were to return the heights to its sovereignty.

“I don’t know of any negotiations that are over before they’ve begun,” Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in a statement issued on Tuesday night regarding the negotiations with Syria. “What is important to us is not a peace of open embassies and eating hummus in Damascus, but, rather, a cessation of the arms smuggling via Syria to Hezbollah, a severance of its ties with Iran and an end to its support for terror organizations, such as Hamas.”

Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak yesterday also spoke about the negotiations with Syria at a conference he attended in Maalot. Mr. Barak said he believes eliminating Syria from the conflict would go a long way toward weakening Hamas and Hezbollah and toward altering Iran’s overall role.

“That is a far-reaching change for the State of Israel. I am in favor of direct negotiations with the Syrians,” Mr. Barak said. “Hezbollah, Hamas, the Syrian threat and the centrifuges are real, and they require difficult, complicated, complex and dangerous decisions for Israel. In this situation, it would be best to have a person with a steady hand at the wheel.”

Israeli Professor Eyal Zisser, an expert on Syrian matters, observed in the daily Israeli newspaper Yisrael Hayom that “the Syrians don’t sincerely expect an answer. It seems that the entire purpose of the leak from Damascus is to prepare the casework in advance of Barack Obama’s assumption of office, as well as in advance of the formation of the next Israeli government.”

Prof. Zisser added “the Syrians will claim that the talks with Olmert had already reached the point of drawing a border line, and that Israel is obliged to meet that demand if it wants the negotiations resumed.”

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com

Officials in Moscow have accepted the offer of Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak to dispatch an Israeli plane to transport the bodies of the 24 Russian travel agents who were killed in the Tuesday bus accident near Eilat back to Russia.

Twenty-seven injured people are still being treated in five Israeli hospitals. The conditions of nine are very serious; two are in serious condition and the rest sustained moderate and light injuries. The Israeli transportation minister said that “hooliganism of drivers” caused the accident.

About 50 relatives of the travel agents hurt in the accident gathered on Tuesday night at the airport in St. Petersburg, Russia. A special Russian government plane belonging to the Emergency Ministry of Russia collected the relatives and headed for Israel.

The plane carried psychologists and physicians, forensic experts and equipment for flying bodies. Two planes arrived in Israel from Russia yesterday morning, bringing family members of the people killed and injured in the accident, as well as medical staff.

“The relatives will identify their loved ones based on information they will receive from the Russian embassy,” said Tamara Halavskaya, CEO of the Russian tourism company partnered with the Israeli company Travelux, which hosted the travel agents.

According to Israeli government sources, Travelux, which organized the visit for the 49 Russian travel agents, is a “veteran company, with a good reputation and a great deal of experience with the Russian market.”

The Israeli company booked the transportation services and the guides. The goal aimed to familiarize the agents with Eilat hotels and give them a tour of other tourist spots in Israel. “To sell Israel to them,” Ms. Halavskaya said in a phone conversation from St. Petersburg to the Voice of Israel Radio.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com

Pope Benedict XVI will come to Israel for his official visit in May 2009 since being elected pope. This was reported by the Italian newspaper Il Foglio, citing sources in the Vatican. The report said the pope would come to Jerusalem on May 11, 2009 and will stay in Israel for four days. He will hold Masses in Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem.

The papal visit will coincide with the Jewish celebration of Lag B’omer, which this year occurs on May 12, 2009. Lag B’omer is a time when thousands of Jews make a pilgrimage to the grave of the Rabbinic sage Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, located in the Galilee, on the day that marks his death.

From a logisitical point of view, the planned timing of the papal visit will provide a logistical headache to Israel’s law enforcement authorities.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com

In one of the worst Qassam attacks on Sderot since the cease-fire began, a Palestinian rocket exploded right outside a Sderot supermarket on yesterday evening around 5 p.m. local time. Shrapnel wounded three people, with one man suffering a head wound, according to a MADA spokesperson on scene.

Fire trucks and ambulances lined outside the supermarket as shattered glass littered the entire area. Nine people including three young women were evacuated to Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon for severe shock.

The Qassam rocket caused heavy damage to at least 15 cars in the parking lot where it had exploded. The smell of serious gas leaks had Sderot firemen hosing the entire parking lot with water to prevent fire.

Inside the supermarket, known as Victory, wine bottles lay shattered upon the floor, as shoppers made their way outside across puddles of wine and broken glass. Rocket shrapnel caused heavy damage to store merchandise, as the glass windows in the supermarket’s front entrance completely shattered.