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Friday
Jan022009

Gaza Update (9 p.m. Israel; 7 p.m. Britain): Israel Targets, Washington Holds the Line

Latest Update: Getting Fatah Back In

Israel now appears to be concentrating on targeted strikes against individuals in the Hamas leadership. On Friday, besides hitting the tunnels from Rafah and a mosque where weapons were allegedly stored, Israeli planes bombed the home of Imad Akel, who Tel Aviv claimed was a rocket-maker.



The Palestinian death toll is now 428 while six Israelis have died. The Israeli Defense Forces are reporting the launching of 20 rockets today, a smaller number than in recent days.

The Israeli strategy, given that Hamas leaders except the slain Nizar Riyan have not been in their homes, may indicate that Israel is running out of "high-priority" targets (a hypothesis put forward by an analyst on Al Jazeera this morning), having repeatedly hit Hamas ministries and other public buildings such as the Islamic University. If so, it is unclear how Israel can raise the pressure further short of a ground assault. Al Jazeera is raising that possibility, noting that Israel is clearing land mines on the border.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met President Bush and then held to the official US line that only a "sustainable and durable cease-fire" would be acceptable. That position either puts to rest, or more likely covers up, the story on Enduring America earlier today of private US discussions with Israel on a face-saving way out of military operations.

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