WAR BRIEFING: Nasrallah threatens Tel Aviv: What should Israel Do?

	August 4, 2006

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What to do now?: Israel's leader must draw a hard red line and stick with it Dear Readers, It's now more than three weeks into the war, and despite UN machinations, the end is nowhere in sight. The people of Israel have been poorly serve by its political leadership and military brass, neither of which has proven worthy of the courageous and determined soldiers of the IDF. After squandering precious time on an ineffectual air war and pinpoint raids, and wasting a week apologizing for the Qana fiasco, Israel's army finally went into high gear with a call up of reserve forces and a push to seize control of southern Lebanon. While Hezbollah is battered, its leadership is unbowed. Nasrallah's threat to rocket Tel Aviv with longrange Zelzal missiles could lead to a regional conflagration. And yesterday, Tisha b'Av, Israel suffered its greatest losses yet. Israel Insider was among the leading publications on the Internet to identify and expose the phony aspects of the Qana Con, in which the world media played along with an "Hezbollywood" production that distorted and exaggerated civilian losses. Our analysis helped trigger a tremendous worldwide analysis by bloggers of the evidence of collusion between wire photographers and Hezbollah propagandists. Sadly, the feeble IDF spokespeople just kept apologizing.... Speaking of poor excuses... In an interview with the foreign press, PM Olmert let slip his view that the IDF's revealed "power and glory" will support his plan for a massive retreat from Israel's biblical heartland. So, having scene the brilliant results of withdrawing from Gaza and Lebanon, our clever prime minister wants to repeat the experiment in Judea and Samaria. Olmert has been giving bold victory speeches, talking about the great successes of his war effort, in large measure to cover up his own leadership failures in the bumbling management of the campaign. Unfortunately for him, his boastful claims are answered by unprecedented rocket barrages on our beleagured north. I believe the best of a bad situation can be achieved by advancing forces to the Litani, expelling or destroying all hostile forces in the south, and then creating a new red line that will be free of Hezbollah presence until a reliable Lebanese force is ready to take over. If rocket attacks continue to escalate, then we will need to go for the heads of the Hydra in Damascus and Teheran, ideally in concert with the US, but alone if need be. The dictators need to understand that playing with matches can get you burned. Israel Insider's lead role in the media war on Israel's behalf and our expanded coverage has led to a quadrupling of our traffic. We have already done one upgrade to keep up with the pressure. At the same time, key personnel on our staff have been called up to fight in Lebanon. Any contributions to help us expanding our service to fill this need and expand our service will be deeply appreciated! Never has it been clearer that the media -- especially on the Internet -- is a key front in the war effort, the struggle against murderous, deceitful, expansionist Islam. Israel is on the front lines in defense of western civilization, most of which seems ready to sacrifice us. But we'll do it on our own, if need be. We have no choice. Help us fight the good fight. May our citizen-soldiers in the north and south be victorious and our suffering but determined citizens soon return to normal life in our beautiful beleaguered little country! Shabbat shalom to all! Reuven Koret Publisher TOP OF THE NEWS: Israel unimpressed by Nasrallah threat to hit Tel Aviv if Beirut is bombed Several hours after Nasrallah's threat, Israeli jets bombed Hezbollah strongholds in south Beirut, igniting several huge explosions. INSIDER QUOTE "If the price we have to pay becomes unreasonable as a result of increased attacks, then we shall have to take all steps, including occupying the Gaza Strip." Maj. General Yoav Galant, head of the IDF Southern Command 04/20/2006 Articles Rice signals US will compromise, support calls for "immediate ceasefire" Moving closer to the position that France and other EU countries are taking, she predicted that a UN Security Council resolution would be OKed within days. Black day: 8 killed by rockets on north; 3 soldiers killed in Lebanon Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel killed five people in Acre and three in Tarshish. 3 soldiers in a tank were killed. More than 200 rockets landed. Hezbollywood Horror: "Civil Defense Worker" doubles as Traveling Mortician By comparing stories and photos, it seems highly likely that Abu Shadi the mortician and Abu Shadi the "civil defense worker" are one and the same. Iranian president says destruction of Israel is solution to Mideast crisis Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis was to destroy Israel, state-media reported. Olmert starts firestorm by saying war victory may expedite "realignment" Olmert said the current fighting "will ultimately lay the foundations for movement in the framework of the realignment." He later denied saying so. Man killed, 16 wounded as record 227 Hezbollah rockets hit northern Israel Hezbollah guerrillas on Wednesday fired a barrage of more than 210 rockets at towns across northern Israel, killing one and wounding 16 people. Olmert: offensive will stop when international peacekeeping force is in place PM Ehud Olmert told The Associated Press that Israel's offensive will stop only once a robust international peacekeeping force is in place. IDF commandos capture 5 Hezbollah guerrillas at Baalbek Israeli troops captured five Hezbollah guerrillas and killed at least 10 in a commando raid in Lebanon, Israel's army chief said. Lebanese report: Hezbollah planted disabled children in basement to die Report: Hezbollah placed a rocket launcher on the roof of the building in Qana to provoke an Israeli attack and brought invalid children inside to be victims. Hezbollywood? Evidence mounts that Qana collapse and deaths were staged It would be a Hollywood ending for it all to end in Qana, as it did a decade ago. But perfect endings, and perfect crimes, rarely happen in real life. RECENT VIEWS Those Poor, Innocent Lebanese By Irwin N. Graulich You sleep with dogs, you wake up with fleas. You sleep with missiles, you wake up dead. Olmert must choose between lives of human shields and Israelis By Dr. Aaron Lerner Israel's decision to give priority to lives of enemy human shields is not dictated by international law, which doesn't require states to self-destruct. What is Going Wrong? By Moshe Feiglin Nasrallah may well have more surprises. The Jewish settlements in the mountains of Judea and Samaria might well be the best refuge for millions of Israelis. The media war against Israel By Tom Gross Large sections of the international media are not only misreporting the current conflict in Lebanon. They are also actively fanning the flames. The need for steadfastness By Col. Ralph Peters The Olmert government has been tragically weak. In warfare, those unwilling to pay the butcher's bill up front pay it with compound interest in the end. The Glorification of Death, the Irrelevance of Truth By Stephen J. Kohn Truth: there has never been as large a group that worships and condones civilian enemy deaths as the Muslim terrorists and their supporters. Who cares? Hezbollah propaganda and trumped-up atrocities suggests panic setting in By Michael Widlanski Buoyed by its own press releases, films and alleged Israeli "massacre" in Kana, Hezbollah is making increasingly questionable battlefield claims. Reserved Rage By Stan Goodenough People of honesty and integrity know the truth. With a few exceptions, the international press corps covering this conflict cannot be counted among them. Just how desperate is Hezbollah? By David Potter If taking Israeli hostages was a calculated risk for Hezbollah, then so would be blowing up a building full of Lebanese civilians, living or dead. There's Something About Qana By Ellen W. Horowitz Deja vu doesn't do it justice. Haunting might be the best way to describe the events which transpired at Qana this week. Who should be plagued by guilt? Attack Iran Now! By Ze'ev Orenstein It can either take on Iran now, or wait until Iran has at its disposal the means to utterly destroy the Jewish State, and will not hesitate to do so? When You Sleep with a Missile By Paula R. Stern Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman. asked when was the last time Hezbollah apologized for any injury to Israeli civilians. We all know that answer. NGOs that take sides By Gerald Steinberg Words and images used by journalists, politicians, diplomats and officials of powerful NGOs set the framework in which the military actions are judged. Sick and tired of paying for the Left's arrogance By Yehezkel Bin-Nun We are tired of putting out the fires started by the Left. We are tired of dying for the Left's mistakes. Isn't it time we put a stop to this madness? "Tired" Olmert gets his wish By Reuven Koret Now the question is what Israeli democracy will do with would-be leaders who have proven their incompetence and failure under fire. Briefs AP hems and haws to explain doubling of Qana death toll AP tries to rationalize journalistic sloppiness, likely influenced by an agenda to exaggerate the suffering of Lebanese civilians at Israel's expense. AP on the run, rushes to defend questionable Qana photos The photos taken in Qana village were replete with damning evidence that indicts the AP news agency for what appear to be willful extortions. Red Cross, rights group: Qana death toll half what was previously reported Human Rights Watch and the Red Cross on Wednesday put the death toll from an Israeli air strike at the Lebanese village of Qana at 28. Statement from Mel Gibson asking for help from Jewish community Mel Gibson made a statement, released to the news media early Tuesday, five days after his drunken driving arrest in Malibu, California. Israeli army chief of staff suffers from war indigestion? Israeli army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz was given a clean bill of health after his third trip to the hospital for stomach pains. USEFUL LINKS Israel News in English Wiresearch/Newsportals about Israel Israel Insider Yahoo Jerusalem Post Google Israel news (by relevance) Haaretz (English) Google Israel news (by recency) Israel National News   Israel News in Hebrew Other Maariv Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ynet Israel Defense Forces Haaretz CoP/JCPA Daily Alert Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio) WebLog of Mideast Politics Voice of Israel (Second Network) OpinionJournal Best of the Web   SHMOOZE! SPONSORED BY: Israel's Story in Maps Help Israel Insider, as you help yourself! Our fantastic collection of more than 80 digital maps of the Holy Land from the time of Abraham to the present is on sale for only $6.95+$5 S&H for a CD and just $4.95 for a year online subscription. There's nothing quite like it. You need it now more than ever! 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