Word: assaults
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Given those numbers, concern is growing that the clashes could continue even when the Gaza assault ends. That's especially true in France, whose six million Muslims and more than 600,000 Jews constitute the largest of each respective community in Europe. Memories of the violence inspired by Israel-Palestinian clashes in 2002 and by Israel's offensive in Lebanon in 2006, prompted quick appeals for calm after the latest incidents. French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared "our country will not tolerate international tension mutating into inter-community violence", and promised no perpetrator of such trouble would "remain unpunished...
...British Justice Minister Shahid Malik notes, the assault on Gaza is causing collateral damage even among non-violent, moderate British Muslims. "There is a real feeling of helplessness, hopelessness and powerlessness among Britain's Muslims in the context of Gaza," Malik told The Guardian. "The sense of grievance and injustice is both profoundly acute and obviously profoundly unhealthy...
...less than a ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the lifting of the [18-month long] Israeli siege on Gaza." It isn't clear yet how close the Egyptian proposal mirrored Hamas' demands for a cease-fire in the 19 day-old conflict. When the assault started, Palestinians accused Egypt of catering to Israel (Cairo had just played host to Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni). The Hamas source commented pessimistically, "We're 100% sure that Israel won't accept our demands, but let's see how far the Egyptians get with them." Israeli Prime Minister Ehud...
Other Palestinian sources say that Hamas delegates were warned by the Egyptians that unless they agreed to a truce, Israel would launch a major ground assault into Gaza City, one of the most crowded places on earth, which risks raising the death toll far higher. Palestinian medical sources say that more than 300 children have died in the Gaza fighting. (See pictures of the heartbreak in the Middle East...
...next step is getting the Israelis to accept. Israeli officials say a bitter feud has erupted between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his Defense Minister Ehud Barak over how long to prolong the Gaza assault. Barak says he is ready for a truce, arguing that Hamas has suffered a punishing blow from the Israeli blitzkrieg and the next step - sending troops into Gaza City's crowded streets - could raise the casualty figures far higher among Palestinian civilians and Israeli soldiers. But Olmert wants to press on until Hamas' leadership and 15,OOO to 20,000 fighters are weakened even more...