Gaza Update: Israel Talks Tough As Crisis Looms

As we feared yesterday, the Israel-Gaza situation has been framed as a military standoff between rocket attacks into southern Israel and Israeli military incursions into Gaza. At least 20 rockets were fired into southern Israel, while two Israeli air raids.

There has been a worrying escalation of rhetoric from Israel, especially from the two candidates --- Tzipi Lvini and Benyamin Netanyahu --- vying to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Olmert has been cautious, saying, "A responsible government doesn't rush into battle, neither does it shy away"; however, both Lvini and Netanyahu have pledged to "topple the Hamas rule in Gaza".



A large-scale Israeli offensive is unlikely during the electoral campaign; instead, there will be a series of bombings and targeted assassinations as the rocket attacks continue. In effect, this is a situation of deadly stalemate.

Deadly in economic as well as military terms. The latest news from Gaza is the World Bank's warning of a shortage of currency, which in turn will bring the economy to a standstill.

Gaza: This is News, This is Not News

BBC Radio 4's Today programme has an extended item on Israel and Palestine this morning, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, but its only reference to Gaza is "Palestinian militant groups, of which Hamas is the largest" and "the possibility of incipient violence." The New York Times does consider Hamas but in the context of a possible division in the leadership over continuation of a truce with Israel. The Washington Post is concerned about a parade in which Hamas "bragged about its violent exploits".

Hmmm....what could be missing here? I don't know, maybe....

Gaza Families Eat Grass as Israel Locks Border