CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Hamas Calls Off Truce With Israel

MSNBC reports Hamas says it will no longer honor a truce with Israel:

“The earthquake in the Zionist towns will start again,” said a leaflet distributed by the militants at a Hamas rally Friday night. “The resistance groups ... will choose the proper place and time for the tough, strong and unique response.”

[. . .]

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri confirmed the militant group, which won a parliamentary election in January and now heads the Palestinian government, would renew its attacks.

Hamas' statement came after Israel shelled suspected rocket launching sites in Gaza. Palestinian officials said the artillery hit a family beach picnic, killing seven people, including three children.
The Israeli army said it attacked northern Gaza Strip areas that Palestinian militants use to fire homemade rockets at Israel. According to MSNBC, one artillery strike appeared to go dramatically off course.

Israel frequently targets sites used by Palestinian militants to fire rockets toward Israel.

Earlier today, Palestinian militants promised to avenge the death of Abu Samhadana, the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority's security chief, in an Israeli air strike yesterday:

"God willing, our retaliation shall come," Abu Sharif, a leading commander, said from a loudspeaker car as it drove around Gaza in the aftermath of the strike.

It will not be by statements, but by rockets toward Sderot and all the Zionist community. It will be by self-sacrificing martyrs who will blow up themselves in every corner.

Abu Samhadana was a key figure in Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel and suspect in a deadly bombing of a U.S. convoy in Gaza in 2003.

Ariel Sharon Suffers Minor Stroke

Reuters reports Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was rushed to a Jerusalem hospital on Sunday suffering from what Israeli television described as a minor stroke that was not life-threatening.

According to Haaretz, Sharon was rushed to hospital after suffering a minor stroke and briefly losing consciousness:

Channel 1 television said Sharon had been speaking on the telephone from his car with one of his sons, Gilad, when he told him: "I don't feel well."

"Dad, go to hospital immediately," Gilad replied, according to the report.

Sharon's motorcade then sped to Hadassah, where doctors diagnosed a minor stroke caused by a blockage of blood to the brain, hospital sources said.

[. . .]

Following tests, the prime minister was transferred to an internal medicine ward at the hospital, where he will remain overnight. Doctors said that Sharon would be discharged "soon."

"He is conscious, speaking and joking, and moving all parts of his body," Channel 1 said, quoting unidentified doctors.

We wish Prime Minister Sharon well.

Fails To Understand What Is Unacceptable

finds the U.N. Security Council statement condemning President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over his Hitler-like call for Israel to be "wiped off the map" unacceptable:

In its defiant statement on Saturday, 's foreign ministry said: "The declaration published by the Security Council - proposed by the Zionist regime to cover its crimes and give an image at odds with reality - is unacceptable."

[. . .]

However, the foreign ministry went on to say was committed to its engagements based on the UN charter.

"It has never used force against a second country or threatened the use of force," it said.

The BBC's Frances Harrison says this is the first time has indicated it has no intention of attacking Israel. I don't find the ian Foriegn Ministry's statement, at least to the extent reported by the BBC to be an indication that has "no intention of attacking Israel." I take President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's belligerent call for Israel to be "wiped off the map" to be a clear expression of 's intent with regard to Israel. Especially considering the fact that the ian president continues to defend his call for Israel's destruction.

So exactly what is it that finds "unacceptable?" Here is the condemnation issued by the Security Council:

The members of the Security Council condemn the remarks about Israel attributed to H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of .

The members of the Security Council support the Secretary-General’s statement of 27 October noting that, under the United Nations Charter, all Members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.

Secretary-General Annan's 27 October statement expressed dismay over Ahmadinejad's call for Israel to be wiped off the map:

The Secretary-General has read with dismay the remarks about Israel attributed to H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of .

He reminds all Member States that Israel is a long-standing member of the United Nations with the same rights and obligations as every other member. He recalls in particular that, under the United Nations Charter, all members have undertaken to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

The Secretary-General had already decided to visit during the next few weeks, to discuss other issues. He now intends to place the Middle East peace process, and the right of all states in the area to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force, at the top of his agenda for that visit.

Coming after Israel's call to expell from the United Nations, the diplomatic pressure may be "unacceptable" to . Combined, Annan's "intention" to adjust his agenda and the Security Council's "condemnation" constitute only a good first step in the right direction. Ahmadinejad hasn't backed off from his statement, but continues to defend it. Diplomatic pressure must be ramped up until Ahmadinejad retracts and apologizes for the Hitler-like call to destroy Israel. must be made to feel like a pariah until it admits it is its president's statement that is "unacceptable."

UN Security Council Condemns ian President's Remarks

The BBC reports the U.N. Security Council condemned ian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Hitler-like call for Israel to be "wiped off the map:"

The UN statement said: "The Security Council condemns the remarks about Israel attributed to Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic republic of ."

It's not exactly an expulsion, but it is more than I expected out of the U.N. Maybe Bolton makes a difference.

Iranian President Defends Call For Israel's Destruction

CNN and The Guardian report that moved to limit the damage from the ian president's Hitler-like statement that Israel should be “wiped off the map:”

According to CNN, 's Moscow embassy said Ahmadinejad did not mean to "speak up in such sharp terms:"

The ian embassy, in the first official reaction to criticism of the president's remarks from world leaders, said Ahmadinejad "did not have any intention to speak up in such sharp terms and enter into a conflict."

"It's absolutely clear that, in his remarks, Mr. Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic Republic of , underlined the key position of , based on the necessity to hold free elections on the occupied territories," Reuters quoted the embassy statement as saying.

While ian Diplomats try to repair the damage, President Ahmadinejad defended his Israel should be “wiped off the map” statement, saying his remarks were "just" and the international criticism did not "have any validity."

The BBC reports tens of thousands of ians took part in a Tehran rally and supported President Ahmadinejad's statement:

Many carried posters and placards sporting the slogan "Israel should be wiped off the map".

Joining the protest, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "My words were the ian nation's words.

"Westerners are free to comment, but their reactions are invalid," Mr. Ahmadinejad told the official Irna news agency.

Even the Palestinians rejected Ahmadinejad's warlike comments, with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat saying:

"Palestinians recognise the right of the state of Israel to exist and I reject his comments," he told the BBC News website.

"What we need to be talking about is adding the state of Palestine to the map and not wiping Israel from the map," he said.

After saying that should be expelled from the United Nations, Israel is now seeking an emergency meeting of the UN.

The scary thing about Ahmadinejad's Hitler-like call for Israel's destruction is that it appears to be the official policy 's mullocracywhich is opposed to peace and reconciliation with Israel.

Israel Wants Expelled From The United Nations

Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said should be expelled from the United Nations after its new president said Israel should be “wiped off the map:”

“Since the United Nations was established in 1945, there has never been a head of state that is a U.N. member state that publicly called for the elimination of another U.N. member state,” Peres told Israel Radio.

“There has never been such a scandal. It is impossible to ignore this and close your ears,” said Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, adding there is no place in the world body for such a country.

is suspected of developing nuclear weapons. has failed to convince the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful. That failure caused the IAEA to approve a resolution requiring to be reported to the Security Council.

Further evidence that 's mullocracy has earned its label as a member of the axis of evil, Reuters reports that lets al Qaeda roam free:

is permitting around 25 high-ranking al Qaeda members to roam free in the country's capital, including three sons of Osama bin Laden, a German monthly magazine reported on Wednesday.

Citing information from unnamed Western intelligence sources, the magazine Cicero said in a preview of an article appearing in its November edition that the individuals in question are from Egypt, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Europe.

is also accused of supporting insurgents in Iraq.

Despite the ian president's Hitler-like calls for Israel's destruction, and 's well deserved rouge nation status as a member of the axis of evil, won't be expelled from the U.N. or even sanctioned. No, instead of being punished for its anti social behavior, is rewarded. Russia builds and launches a spy satellite for . Russia continues to support 's nuclear program. Even the United States sends mixed messages. Congress has passed a bill watering down the Nonproliferation Act to allow the U.S. to continue to pay Russia to get crew and cargo to and from the International Space Station.

It's a good thing Israel knows how to take care of itself.

Iran's President: 'Israel Must Be Wiped Off The Map'

Speaking at "The World without Zionism" conference in Tehran, 's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, "Israel must be wiped off the map:"

"There is no doubt that the new wave (of attacks) in Palestine will wipe off this stigma (Israel) from the face of the Islamic world," Ahmadinejad told students Wednesday during a Tehran conference called "The World without Zionism."

"Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury, (while) any (Islamic leader) who recognizes the Zionist regime means he is acknowledging the surrender and defeat of the Islamic world," Ahmadinejad said.

Irresponsible statements such as Ahmadinejad's, is more evidence why the ian mullocracy cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. Ahmadinejad's Hitler-like call for Israel's destruction can only be interpreted as incitement of terrorism. When you couple these statements of intent with 's capability, which includes the Shahab-3 missel able to deliver a nuclear warhead to Israel, you have to wonder when the World will take the ian threat seriously.

UPDATE: The Guardian reports 's president created a sense of outrage in the west by calling for the destruction of Israel:

His speech was immediately condemned by the US, Britain, France, Germany and Israel.

Al-Qaida In Gaza

The Jerusalem Post reports that Al-Qaida-linked terrorists are operating in Gaza.

Palestinian Authority security officials told The Jerusalem Post that Jundallah, or "Allah's Brigades," is a radical Muslim group that has close ties with al-Qaida in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq and its members are mostly of former Hamas and Islamic Jihad members:

"They believe that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have become too moderate," the official said, referring to the two groups' agreement to temporarily suspend terror attacks on Israel.

Jundallah gunmen attacked IDF soldiers earlier this week wounding four soldiers.

Abu Abdallah al-Khattab, who identifies himself as the spokesman for Jundallah in the Gaza Strip, said the group "has vowed to avenge the blood of all Palestinians and Muslims who have fallen victim to Israel and the US:"

Khattab hinted that his group was also planning to target US interests in the region. "Our people will not remain idle in the face of American crimes in Muslim countries," he said. "It is forbidden to shed the blood of Muslims and it is our duty to respond. The blood of Muslims is not cheap."

He accused the US of desecrating the Koran and killing Muslims in Iraq. "Soon everyone will see operations [against the US] that would make all the Muslims delighted," he cautioned.

I remain concerned that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will be seen as victory by Palestinian militants as was Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon.

I wonder if Jundallah has anything to do with Israeli army officers wanting to delay the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Reuters reports that some top Israeli army officers want to delay withdrawal because of slow preparations and fears over the strength of Palestinian militants.

Israel is to evacuate all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip beginning on August 15, under prime minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.

Palestinians to Disarm "Militants"

Palestinian security forces intend to disarm militant factions as part of a plan to prevent attacks on Israelis. Reuters reports that Bashir Nafe, commander of Special Forces and tipped as a possible security chief for the West Bank and Gaza, said:

"The instructions are clear ... Weapons that don't belong to the Palestinian police are illegal. So wherever illegal weapons are found, we will collect them," Nafe told Reuters.

"There is no leadership in the world that gets elected on a peaceful program and leaves arms in the hands of militias and other groups," he said.

This would be a good start, if the Palestinians actually did it. I'm not very optimistic they will.

U.S. Forces Moving Into Falluja

American soldiers and marines have begun moving into Falluja heading for strategic bridges, hospitals and other objectives of the troublesome city.

According to the New York Times at least one objective, a hospital less than a mile from downtown Falluja, had been secured by American special forces and the Iraqi 36th commando battalion:

Tracer fire lit up the sky as the operation began, helicopters crisscrossed the battlefield, and at least one American vehicle was fired upon with a rocket-propelled grenade as American and Iraqi forces converged on the hospital, called Al-Falluja. Shortly before midnight, American forces were exchanging gunfire across a strategic bridge near the hospital with four to five insurgent positions on the other side.

"There has been extensive gunfire going across the river," said the American commander of the special forces operation at the hospital, which officials called a crucial early objective. "Bradleys have been shooting over to the east of us, and there has been extensive machine gun fire to the southwest of us," the commander said.

U.S. warplanes and artillery have been battering Falluja to weaken the defenses that the guerrillas had built up in anticipation of the coming battle, the senior military official said.:

It has become clear that the insurgents will try to channel the American troops along certain routes as they enter the city, routes that are heavily booby-trapped with hidden bombs and could be rife with snipers, he said.

"We're trying to shape the conditions to conduct further operations" if ordered to attack by Dr. Allawi, the official said.

There is little doubt that bringing Falluja to heel is critical to establishing conditions conducive to Iraq's planned January elections.