Israel Rejects Ceasefire Move As Divisions Emerge in Leadership

Troops gather on Gazan border ready for new stage in fighting with ­possible invasion by Israeli forces
Israel rejected any temporary halt to its five-day bombing campaign in Gaza ­today and continued to hit targets in the Palestinian territory amid the first signs of disagreement over strategy among Israel's leaders.

Israeli troops and tank crews gathered in larger numbers on the Gazan border ready for a new stage in the fighting. A ­possible invasion by Israeli forces could range from limited ground incursions to a much larger land invasion of Gaza, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. Another call-up of reservists has been approved, bringing the total to 9,000.

Israel extended its buffer zone under military authority around Gaza to a radius of 25 miles after the reach of Hamas ­rockets to the town of Be'er Sheva.

In the first indication of a division over the course of the engagement since the conflict began on Saturday, the prime ­minister, Ehud Olmert, personally championed a continuation of the military campaign while his defence minister, Ehud Barak – Israel's most decorated soldier and a former chief of staff – proposed a 48-hour halt last night.

"If conditions will ripen and we think there will be a diplomatic solution that will ensure a better security reality in the south, we will consider it. But at the moment, it's not there," an aide quoted Olmert as saying. "We didn't start this operation just to end it with rocket fire continuing as it did before it began. Imagine if we declare a unilateral ceasefire and a few days later rockets fall on Ashkelon. What will that do to Israel's deterrence?"

Olmert met Barak, the foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, and his senior commanders for an apparently tense four-hour meeting last night. A security cabinet meeting today then decided against any pause in the bombing. The French government had tried to convince the Israelis to accept the pause and to allow in more humanitarian aid into Gaza. But Israel's leaders are keen not to repeat the experience of the 2006 Lebanon war when divisions over strategy led to recriminations and loss of confidence among the Israeli public.

Israeli jets today bombed smuggling tunnels on the Egyptian border as well as a mosque in Gaza City, which the military said was used to store weapons.

Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets into southern Israel, reaching a new range of around 25 miles and hitting the city of Be'er Sheva. The rockets have killed four Israelis since Saturday. The death toll of Palestinians in Gaza rose to 393 with 1,650 wounded in five days.

Some defence officials have suggested that as the weather improves later this week tanks and troops might be sent into Gaza in another attempt to stop the firing of rockets into southern Israel. A long column of tanks and other army vehicles was seen today on an access road leading into Gaza. Dozens more tanks were parked in fields by the border.

Most military analysts say it is unlikely that Israel would embark on a costly full reoccupation of Gaza and that not enough troops are in position for that. More likely is a series of smaller raids, similar to those carried out in recent years on Gazan towns near the border such as Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya. However, although Israel faced little international criticism when the conflict started, pressure for a halt to the violence is growing from western governments as well as the UN and aid agencies.

Gordon Brown today called for an urgent ceasefire amid the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. "It is vital that moderation must now prevail," he said after speaking by phone to Olmert – the first time the two leaders have spoken since the crisis erupted.

Brown said: "I have talked to the prime minister of Israel and had assurances from him that there will be access for humanitarian reasons to get stocks in, to get supplies to people in Gaza and to help with the casualties."

Max Gaylard, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for the Palestinians, said: "It is absolutely crucial that there is an end to the fighting. Without it, more civilians will continue to be killed. Without the violence stopping it is extremely difficult to get food to people who need it." He said the UN relief and works agency, which supports the large part of the Gazan population who are refugees, had no wheat grain left in its warehouses for the 750,000 people it feeds.

Israel has allowed in around 100 trucks of humanitarian supplies on each of the past two days, but that comes after months of severe economic blockade and major shortfalls in Gaza of food and medical supplies. The UN said it was still well short of what was needed.

One Hamas spokesman in Gaza said the group was open to another ceasefire, but wanted Israel's economic blockade lifted. For more than a year Israel has prevented all imports, except limited humanitarian supplies, and prevented all exports from Gaza – in effect destroying private business.

© Guardian News & Media 2008
Published: 12/31/2008
 
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