Israel Out for Palestinian Blood

ISRAEL'S ENVISIONS LIMITED GROUND ASSAULT

June 27, 2006

Middle East Newsline

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Israel's government has approved a plan for a limited ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Military sources said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz submitted a plan for an imminent assault on the Palestinian Authority. The sources said the plan envisioned a limited ground operation backed by a massive air campaign.

"There are things that are being planned that have not been publicized and should remain ambiguous," Amos Gilad, director of the Defense Ministry's political-military division, said. "We have to prepare a range of military possibilities and not rule out any option.

Under the plan, approved by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, special operations forces, main battle tanks and armored personnel vehicles would enter the Gaza Strip from the north, south and east. The sources said the military would divide the Gaza Strip into three zones.

Update:

Israeli troops roll into Gaza

Palestinians hoard food in fear of siege