Published: November 15, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War - Israel DM Plans Massive Retaliation for Qassam Fire on Sderot
By Willard Payne
Crossfire War - TEHERAN WATCH - West Asia Theatre: Teheran - Gaza - Damascus/Jerusalem; War Escalates in Gaza - Repetition of Summer War - Gaza Fighting Increases First then Spreads North - Hezbollah - Syria - Iran
Night Watch: SDEROT - Israel Defense Minister has just vowed to avenge the death of the Israeli woman who was killed in Sderot when Palestinian militants fired six Qassam rockets into the Israeli town which is near northern Gaza. The rocket fire was in retaliation for the 18 Palestinian civilians who were killed in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun by Israeli tank fire last week. Israel's invasion into northern Gaza was another attempt by Jerusalem to end the Qassam rocket fire that began in June 2004 but increased June this year and that is what started Israel's invasion, again, into Gaza. The Qassam rocket fire had been increased after a Palestinian family was killed when a bomb exploded or perhaps it was a mine Palestinian militants had planted. Whatever the cause Islamic militants then used an underground tunnel to capture an Israeli soldier. Hezbollah then became more active along the Lebanese border and the 34 day war was on. [
AKI]
These specific incidents are what apparently causes the increase in violence and eventually war but in reality the Qassam rocket fire and Hezbollah's raids are directed by Teheran with the complete cooperation of Damascus. Though everyone knows the Qassam is not at all accurate, even less so than the Katyusha and also less powerful, carrying only 20 lbs of explosives, it can however cause a tremendous amount of harassment, forcing Israel to respond heavily. Teheran times and increases firings when other militant groups around Israel are ready for a major confrontation. Hezbollah has been flagrantly violating the arms embargo imposed with the ceasefire in Lebanon in August and the violations have been deliberately ignored by the European led UNIFIL.
Syria and Iran have been actively re-arming Hezbollah in anticipation of the next wave of fighting, which now seems to be under way. So when Israel launches its massive retaliation, possibly before the week is over, Hezbollah will launch its next series of attacks and raids. The next wave of war against Israel will then begin and this time Damascus - Teheran will enter causing more of a regional impact than the war last summer. This was a war the two capitals have been planning since they announced the formation of an Islamic Axis two years ago, specifically targeting Jerusalem and Washington. The Damascus-Teheran mutual security agreement was formally announced by Iran Defense Minister after a four day meeting in Teheran in June.
The current fighting is taking place just one week after Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Washington and U. S. President George W. Bush. The summer war also occurred shortly after an Olmert visit. This ongoing cycle of violence between Jews and Palestinians had been set in motion even before Israel was re-established as a state again in 1948. Teheran entered it 20 years ago and began investing in the cycle when it created Hezbollah, to use it as one of its vehicles to control the region.
Night Watch Information Service
www.crossfirewar.com
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