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YELLOW ALERT

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ISRAEL STRIKES GAZA

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12-28-08

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Above: Smoke after Israeli air strike pours out of Gaza buildings

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Chaos In Gaza

Airstrikes Continue

Notice the NWO's "operative" code-word "chaos" describes the Gaza situation.  LINK

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Israel Beefs Up Border

Mobilizes Reserves

 

 

(A-O Newswire) -- Israel beefed up its forces on the Gaza Strip border giving every indication that a ground offensive will be ordered, perhaps as early as Monday.

Air strikes on the Gaza Strip continued on Sunday but lacked the ferocity of Saturday when Israel surprised the Palestinians. Even so, Palestinian rocketeers managed to launch another 54 rockets into southern Israel in a defiant gesture against Israel.

The Israeli Cabinet voted to mobilize IDF reservists in a major call-up of forces. Ehud Olmert, the caretaker Prime Minister until February warned Cabinet members that the military operations in Gaza would be "long, painful and difficult."

Olmert also issued a public statement: "Israel will continue until we have a new security environment in the south, when the population there will not longer live in terror and in fear of constant rocket barrages."

Even as Israel geared up for an apparent ground invasion of Gaza, the UN Security Council was called into a rare overnight emergency session to debate the latest violence. The Security Council concluded the meeting with a statement calling for a halt to the violence but the U.S. position prevented any attempt at a condemnation of Israel. The US placed blame for the violence solely on Hamas, the terror group now in charge of Gaza.

The U.S. position on the Gaza crisis maintains that Hamas, as the leading party failed to halt break-away groups from launching rockets into southern Israel and thus bears the responsibility for the violence.

On the diplomatic front, Israel is conducting its own "public relations" campaign to minimize world criticism and rally support for Israel's justification in taking military action. The campaign however, appears to be having limited effect.

Israel's military action has surprised many military analysts because they didn't believe that the Israel would take such fierce action and most still believe that ISrael will not attempt to seize control of the Gaza Strip again because it would take such heavy casualties and governance would be extremely problematic.

Another complicating factor is the upcoming Israeli general elections slated for February 10. At the moment, the more conservative Likud party seems to have a slim lead, which if held in place would give Benjamin Netanyahu the Prime Ministership.

In Gaza, the casualty count continues to rise with at least 280 Palestinians reportedly dead and more than 700+ injured. For more details:

LINK 1  --  LINK 2 -- LINK 3 -- Latest = LINK 4

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Iran's Top Cleric Orders

Muslims to Defend Palestinians

Iran's Supreme Leader issued a religious decree to Muslims around the world on Sunday, ordering them to defend Palestinians in Gaza against Israeli attacks "in any way possible", state television reported.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also declared Monday a day of public mourning in Iran after Israel killed more than 280 Palestinians in two days of air strikes on Gaza.

"All Palestinian combatants and all the Islamic world's pious people are obliged to defend the defenceless women, children and people in Gaza in any way possible," Khamenei said.

"Whoever is killed in this legitimate defence, is considered a martyr," he said in a statement. More details, LINK HERE.

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Israeli Air Strikes Day 2

LINK

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Iran Ready To Treat Casualties

Iran announced it was willing to take care of wounded Palestinians who could be flown to Iran for treatment. It is the first indication of Iranian willingness to be involved in the Gaza conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Details, LINK HERE.

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West Bank Protests Flare Up

Palestinian Protester Shot Dead

Israel may face conflict on two fronts as Palestinians in the West Bank took to the streets in Ramallah to protest Israel's military operations against the Gaza Palestinians.

It is entirely conceivable that if things should escalate, Israeli forces may have to contend with Palestinians to the south and to the east. More details on West Bank unrest, LINK HERE.

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More Rockets Hit S. Israel

More rockets rained down into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Warning sirens wailed through the Israeli streets of Ashdod on Sunday morning, as two rockets landed east of the city more than 40 kilometers from Gaza. This is the farthest any rockets launched from the Gaza Strip have penetrated northwards into Israel. It is believed that these rockets were of the larger "Grad" class made in Iran.

Later on Sunday, two more rockets landed in the Israeli town of Ashkelon, injuring two Israelis. Israeli officials have counted more than 150 rockets and mortar shells have been fired into Israel since Israeli warplanes began air strikes on Saturday. At least 54 rockets were reportedly launched on Sunday. More details, LINK HERE.

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Israel Deploys Artillery

Israel has begun deploying artillery units along the Gaza border even as reservists are being mobilized amid indications that Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza. More details, LINK HERE.

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Palestinians Escaping To Sinai

Egyptian Border Breached

Gaza Palestinians breached the border fence with Egypt in several places on Sunday and crossed over into the Sinai Peninsula to escape the Israeli military onslaught. Hundreds of Palestinians reportedly jumped the border fence even as Egyptian border guards began shooting at them.

Egyptian officials said there were at least 5 breaches along the 9 mile border with hundreds of Palestinians racing to cross over into the Sinai. As a response, Egypt rushed 300 additional border guards to the area to stem the flow of refugees. More details, LINK HERE.

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Hamas Threatens Assassination

Of Israeli Leaders

In the wake of Israel's Gaza air strikes and threats to target Hamas leaders in future stirkes, Hamas has threatened to assassinate Israel's leaders.

In response to the Hamas threats Israeli authorities beefed up security around top Israeli leaders. More details, LINK HERE.

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Turkey Accuses Israel of War Crimes

And Crimes Against Humanity

Keep your eyes on Turkey. Israel had enjoyed a moderately friendly working relationship with Turkey for the past several years but lately that relationship has begun to show serious cracks.

In the wake of Israel's Gaza air strikes, Turkey's attitude seems to have taken another turn away from Israell. Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan  characterized Israel's air strikes on Saturday as "crimes against humanity" and thus placed Israel's actions in the same category as those of Adolf Hitler.

The Turkish Prime Minister went on to accuse Israel of using "disproportionate force" and added that Israel's actions were a "blow to peace."

"To go and bomb these defenseless people, and to openly say that this operation will be a long-lasting one, that it will be this or that, to me, is a serious crime against humanity," Erdogan said at a meeting of his ruling Islamic-rooted party.

As news of Israel's attacks reached Turkey, crowds of Turks move to the streets to protest Israel's actions and pray for the families of those killed in the violence and for those injured. More details, LINK HERE.

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Russia Asks Israel to End Attacks

And Allow Aid To Gaza

LINK

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