UPDATED: Israel actually defends itself

This could be big and this could be nothing.

Looks like Israel sent the leader of Hamas military wing to see his 7 virgins.

Via NYT:

GAZA — Israel on Wednesday launched one of the most ferocious assaults on Gaza since its invasion four years ago, hitting at least 20 targets in aerial attacks that killed the top military commander of Hamas, drew strong condemnation from Egypt and escalated the risks of a new war in the Middle East.

The Israelis coupled the intensity of the airstrikes with the threat of another ground invasion and warnings to all Hamas leaders in Gaza to stay out of sight or risk the same fate as the Hamas military commander, Ahmed al-Jabari, who was killed in a pinpoint airstrike as he was traveling by car down a Gaza street. “We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a Twitter message.

The ferocity of the airstrikes, which Israel called Operation “Pillar of Defense” in response to repeated rocket attacks by Gaza-based Palestinian militants, provoked rage in Gaza, where Hamas said the airstrikes amounted to war and promised a harsh response. It quickly launched dozens of rockets into southern Israel, including several that struck the city of Beersheba, shattering windows and damaging cars but causing no injuries.

Civil-defense authorities in Israel, anticipating retaliation, raised alert levels early in the day and told residents in southern Israel to take precautions. Many remained indoors or congregated in bomb shelters.

There is a live blog of what is happening on the ground over in Israel via Haaretz. I would not read too much into this; Israel is simply flexing its muscles at the Gaza strip. Because Hamas keeps firing rockets into Israel. I mean, Israel gives up land to these bastards; and what do they do? Fire missiles into Israel. So, yes, Israel is simply defending itself here. But, I do doubt that this will escalate into full on war. This has happened before; Hamas fires rockets, Israel bombs the crap out of them and Hamas retreats and begs them to stop and things are peaceful again, until the next time.

Of course, I could be, and I hope I am not — wrong about this; it could start another war. But, I doubt it. I like to assume the best, and pray for that as well.

One thing I will not do; and much of the right is doing this and it is wrong. I am not going to pin this on Obama. It is not Obama’s fault that Hamas is firing rockets into Israel. Obama is not superhuman, he cannot control what a bunch of stupid Arabs do in another Country. The best thing Obama can do about this little situation is stay the hell out of it; just like George W. Bush did the last time there was a flare up between the two parties.

Update: Chris Smith reminded me of something over on Google Plus. Egypt is threatening to get involved. Via Breitbart, who is, of course, blaming Obama, which is stupid:

Today, Egypt’s Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood – a party formerly headed by current President Mohammed Morsi – announced that Egypt would get involved if Israel continued to kill terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Such Israeli action, said the party, would prompt “swift Arab and international action to stop the massacres.” The party also warned that Israel “must take into account the changes in the Arab region and especially Egypt … [Egypt] will not allow the Palestinians to be subjected to Israeli aggression, as in the past.”

The question now is whether the Obama administration will be able to prevent Egypt from attempting overt or covert intervention on behalf of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If the United States leads from behind – or worse, if they show daylight with Israel – Israel’s security will be in grave danger. Even as dozens of rockets are fired at Israel, the Obama administration has yet to say anything. The Obama administration, by contrast, couldn’t shut up about a YouTube video even as Americans were slaughtered in Benghazi. And Obama continues to tout the Arab Spring as an awakening for freedom and liberty rather than for Islamism.

No wonder Israel’s neighbors in the north (Syria) and south (Gaza and Egypt) are getting aggressive. They have a friend in the White House.

Please keep in mind, that the writer of that, is a Jew and quite the smirking partisan hack, who blames everything on Obama — including the Weather. But, outside of that, the story about Egypt is legit. Also too, before anyone says anything to me; about me bringing up the fact that Ben is a Jew. Let me say this: If Ben does not mind being an a-hole partisan hack and blaming President Obama for everything, like most Jewish Neocons do. Then I do not mind bringing up his ethnic heritage for all to see. Personally, I am sick and tired of the NeoCons pounding Obama for every damned thing under the sun. They are, among many other reasons — the reason Mitt Romney lost the election, if you really want to be honest about it and I really do not mind reminding every one of that fact.

Related:

Reuters: amas military chief Ahmed Jabari killed by Israeli strike

Telegraph:Hamas military chief killed in Gaza air strike

IDF Blog: IDF Begins Widespread Campaign on Terror Targets in the Gaza Strip

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