Israeli Leaders Threaten Wars Against Syria, South Lebanon, and Gaza Strip Soon

Ehud Barak warns Syria not to interfere between Israel and Hizbullah

Date: 21 / 02 / 2008 Time: 17:03

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has sent a stern message to the Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad through Turkish president Abdullah Gul, asking Syria not to interfere if Israel decides to escalate military action against Hizbullah and Hamas, the London-based Al-Hayat daily newspaper reported on Thursday.

Barak promised to push forward the political negotiations with Syria if they comply with the request.

Israeli political sources have recently been quoted as saying that Barak is preferring to focus on negotiations with Syria rather than with the Palestinians, as agreement is more likely to be reached with the Syrians than with the Palestinians.

In a different regard, the electronic website of the Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said on Thursday that Israel informed Turkey that the government will allow 800 Turkish laborers to work in Israel for the next three years. However, a prerequisite will be the continuation of military deals between both sides. One of those deals is that the Israeli military industry will develop Turkish tanks in return for 700 million US dollars.

Israeli army chief says conflict is likely

Wednesday February 20, 2008 22:36 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

Israeli occupation army chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, was reported on Wednesday as saying that a conflict in the region is likely in the near future.

" I can not promise that we will not face such test in the immediate future", Ashkenazi explained, adding that the Israeli occupation army needs to achieve a swift victory in any type of such a conflict.

Ashkenazi was speaking to a graduation ceremony of a training course for the military, the Israeli English online daily Haaretz, reported. Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, who was attending the ceremony, was quoted as saying that " the second war on Lebanon came out with lessons for the army".

Over the past week, Israel has been faced with accusations of assassinating the second man in command of the Lebanese Hizbullah party, in Damascus, Emad Mughniya. Hizbullah vowed to avenge the killing of Mughaniya.

According to a recent official Israeli report, Israel failed in its war on Lebanon, as Hezbullah appeared triumphant, with the two captured soldiers, remain in captivity.

Recently, the Israeli army has bee reportedly deploying troops on the Israel-Lebanon border lines as Israeli patriot missiles have been placed over there. Also, Israel has threatened of waging a large-scale offensive on the Gaza Strip, in order to, what Israel says, ' halt homemade shells fire' , Palestinian resistance fighters continue to launch from the Hamas-ruled Gaza onto adjacent Israeli areas, (in retaliation for daily Israeli killing of Palestinians).

Israel considers a U.S-like invasion of Gaza

Thursday February 21, 2008 13:41 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

The Israeli government has been reportedly approved a military plan, similar to the U.S invasion of Iraq in 2003, within underway preparations to massively attack Gaza.

According to the Jewish Press online website on Wednesday, Israeli sources said that a plan, drafted by the Israeli general staff, has been endorsed by the Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak.

The website also reported that such a planned invasion has been discussed by several panels of the Israeli cabinet, involving many cabinet members.

A part of the plan, Israel is intending to diminish the Hamas regime in Gaza, with targeting the Hamas leaders and controlling most areas of the Gaza Strip, in a way that dejects momentum of likely international response.

At least 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers, backed by warplanes and warships and battle tanks, will be employed in the Gaza invasion, to be deployed at four main access, including the Mediterranean sea side.

In addition, the Israeli army will dismember the coastal region into three parts, starting with the Gaza international airport of Rafah city in the south, the Jewish online publication added.

Nevertheless, the plan requires approval of the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, who is supposed to await the United States' permission to the proposed invasion of Gaza.

Among the possible scenarios of such an offensive, an Israeli army presence on the Gaza-Egypt border line, with a possibility of installing a NATO force into the region, following the Israeli withdrawal.

Recently, a number of Israeli ministers have gestured possibility to eliminate the Hamas regime in Gaza, once and for all.

Israel has warned of massively attack the Gaza Strip as some ministers proposed leveling to the ground entire Gaza neighborhoods, after having evacuated the residents.

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