Kidnap wars in middle east

Telegraph:

Israel has warned it could kidnap ministers in the Hamas-led Palestinian government, including the group's leader Khaled Meshaal, following the abduction of an Israeli soldier.

Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Israel's infrastructure minister, told Israeli army radio:"If we start with kidnappings, Israel has no problem entering the Gaza Strip and kidnapping half the Palestinian government.

"They have to understand one thing, that nobody is immune, including Khaled Meshaal. Nobody is immune."

The minister also ruled out negotiating with the kidnappers.

Corporal Gilad Shalit, 20, was captured after an attack on an army post on the Gaza Strip border on Sunday.

Palestinian militant groups, including the armed wing of Hamas, yesterday demanded the release of all Palestinian women and children prisoners in return for information about the missing serviceman.

But Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, refused the demand: "The question of releasing prisoners is not on the agenda of the Israeli government at all."

In northern Gaza, Palestinians prepared for an Israeli offensive by blocking roads with mounds of earth. Israeli tanks and troops are massing on the other side of the border.

Israeli media have said the government has approved a contingency plan to cut food, water and gas supplies to the coastal strip if the conscript was not freed.

...

The invasion threat sounds more real, although I would not rule out the capture of Hamas leadership targets as a result of the invasion.

...

Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of Israel, said there would be "no negotiations, no bargaining, no agreements".

He warned the kidnappers and the political leaders who ordered the operation: "Let it be clear. We will reach everyone, no matter where they are and they know it. There will not be immunity for anyone."

...

The story says that the Egyptians have been working to free the soldier. It also suggest that the Egyptians do not believe the Hamas denial of responsibility. I think the Palestinians have yet again made a serious strategic mistake. But, they always do. The Palestinian leadership has always been low function and ruled by its emotions reather than logic or intelligence. It appears to be a prisoner of its own prejudice and bigotry and cannot shake it off even for its own advantage.

This story suggest the Israeli have already begon isolating the battle space.

...

Last night Israeli jets fired missiles at two bridges in the north and south of Gaza to prevent Cpl Shalit being moved out of the area. They also fired five missiles at the only power station in the Gaza Strip, cutting off electricity supplies.

...

The main thrust of the story is a new power sharing arrangement between Hamas and Abbas. I guess they want to share responsibility for the coming debacle.

The NY Times reports that Israeli troops have moved into Gaza and taken over an old airport.

...

Witnesses said that Israeli troops had moved into the old Gaza airport and were heading toward Rafah down the Philadelphi route that marks the border between Gaza and Egypt, as Egyptian troops watched.

Electricity was knocked out through much of Gaza after a complex of electronic transformers, south of Gaza City, was struck by Israeli planes. Witnesses said that the station was hit by numerous missiles and was burning brightly against the sky.

The Israeli army said that the operation was limited to an effort to rescue the corporal. "If we need to, we continue on," said Capt. Noa Meir, an army spokeswoman. "It's all about getting him home."

The airstrikes hit bridges on the coastal and interior roads near the old Israeli settlement of Netzarim, which divides Gaza between north and south, and near Deir al Balah.

Israeli tanks and ground forces, which had massed in staging areas along the border fence with Gaza, especially around Kerem Shalom and Nahal Oz, began to enter the territory in what army officials described as a mission intended to retrieve the corporal, not to reoccupy Gaza.

...

The Times suggest that the prospect of the invasion pushed Hamas and Fatah toward agreement which hints at recognition of Israel. My guess is this is only window dressing to get the aid flowing again and that Hamas is acting in bad faith. The group has never shown any reason to believe otherwise because of its ethnic hatred of the Jews and its virulant religous bigotry as well as its real estate worship.