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Southern Gaza, the primary target of the planned IDF action (Map by Israel Insider)
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| By Israel Insider staff November 9, 2007 |
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Once upon a time, the Government of Israel would make war against the Palestinian Authority. Now, apparently, Olmert's coalition is giving the PA the timing and scope of its battle plans. According to the Friday edition of the London based Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Jerusalem has informed PA authorities in Ramallah of its intention to send the IDF into the Gaza Strip to regain control of the Philadelphi Corridor and to put an end to Hamas smuggling of weapons and cash through tunnels from Egypt.
And disclosure of the battle plan is not limited to the Palestinians. According to the report, Israel has told several Arab states that, following conclusion of the Annapolis conference, reportedly scheduled to begin on November 29, the IDF will embark on an extensive operation in the Strip.
Palestinian sources obtained explicit information from the Israelis, detailing that in the first stage of the operation, Israel would seek to regain control of Rafah and a wide swathe along the Egypt-Gaza border as far north as Khan Yunis, the paper said. The second stage will reportedly include an incursion into the central and northern Gaza Strip, the areas from which most rocket fire against Israeli civilian populations has been emanating.
Al-Quds Al-Arabi reports that PA leader Mahmoud Abbas is doing his best to thwart the plan that the Israelis so generously disclosed. Abbas reportedly rejected out of hand Israel's plan to recapture the Philadelphi Corridor and plans to send emissaries to countres in the region to bring pressure on Israel to stop its planned incursion. |
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