Fearing a UN resolution that Israel would be forced to ignore, huge efforts were made to prevent such a resolution.
Tiptoeing among the eggshells, Condoleesa Rice said in the UN Security Council meeting that the US understands "the urgency of an end to the fighting" and is working around the clock to achieve it. She went on to say, however, that "There must be a solution this time that does not allow Hamas to use Gaza as a launching pad against Israeli cities. It has to be a solution that does not allow the rearmament of Hamas, and it must be a solution that finds a way to open crossings so that Palestinians in Gaza can have a normal life," she said.
It was clear to her, and everyone else, that her words meant that the US is not, at this time, calling for a ceasefire but, rather, allowing the IDF to continue the work so needed to create a situation in southern Israel and Gaza more conducive to calm in the region.
As expected, many Arab speakers denouncing the Security Council's failure to adopt a legally binding resolution to stop the Israeli offensive. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal re-enforced what Israel has known for a long time about the UN's ineffectiveness and impartiality, albeit from the rare opposite side of the coin, when he said, "This places a big question mark over the credibility of the Security Council and the entire system of international security."
It is well-known that a Hamas delegate came to Cairo for talks with the Egyptians Tuesday saying that the group would take the French proposal back to its Damascus, Syria headquarters for discussion. The delegate did not wish to be named, due to the sensitivity of the discussions - read: Hamas is blustering with false bravada but, in reality, losing the war and desperate for a face-saving ceasefire
After proof that Israel's lobbying and public relations efforts are finding their targets, Olmert, on a tour of the South Tuesday, laid out the principles for an end to Operation Cast Lead.
"It will stop when the conditions that are essential for Israel's security are met," Olmert said. "First and foremost, all terrorist operations against us must stop. The strengthening of the terrorist organizations via the smuggling of war materiel from Egypt into Gaza must also stop." .
Hamas commits war crimes by forcing Gazans to be human shield in UN school
Ahmed Tibi calls the shelling of a UN school a "war crime". But who's committing the war crime?
Gaza residents are reporting being locked in their homes by Hamas operatives who are forcing them in this way to shield terrorists. One Gazan man, apparently no longer afraid of Hamas reprisals since he has nothing left to lose, reported on television that his entire family was killed when they were locked in their home while Hamas terrorists fired at IDF forces. IDF returned fire, killing the terrorists and their human shields.
In the UN school shelled by IDF Tuesday, at least 3 known Hamas terrorists were among those killed.
An IDF well-trained in fighting in crowded, civilian areas, is now being allowed by a determined government to strike Hamas even in the places that other battles with Israel have taught them are safe. Their hope remains that even if they are no longer safe among the civilian population, the international community's knees will jerk in the usual response - condeming Israel for taking off the silk gloves.
Israel mourns the bitter price of this just, necessary war.
Three of one of Israel's toughest fighting units, the Golani Brigade, will be laid to rest today after being killed in action in Gaza. One of those killed was identified Tuesday morning as Yousef Moadi, 19, from Haifa. He will be laid to rest at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Druse village of Yirka. Another is from the Yesha community of Michmas, son of respected Dr. Eli Vertman, known for his innovative Altzheimer's research. The third is from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Zev.
According to reports, a force from Golani's 13th Battalion came under heavy mortar fire in Saja'iya and entered a nearby home for cover. Seeing unidentifed movement in a terrorist target, IDF fired on the house, causing it to collapse. 24 additional soldiers, including Golani Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Avi Peled, were injured.
Because many of the tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle arms and large military equipment into Gaza are connected up to civilian homes, many such buildings are targeted by IDF for offensive action. Israel has effectively cut off replenishment of munitions to Hamas in this way since Hamas is afraid to use those tunnels now.
This tactic of Hamas, a cynical use of civilian shields, is one reason for the civilian deaths in Gaza which, though a relatively small number compared to the number of Arabs killed thus far, has brought anti-Cast Lead propaganda to the international fore.
army spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich said that if civilians were killed, Hamas was to blame because it operated within civilian areas.
"If Hamas chooses to use those civilians as human shields, then Hamas should be accountable," army spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich said. "Civilians will probably continue to get killed, unfortunately, because Hamas put them in the front line of fire."
Meanwhile, the overall campaign has been reaching its original goals and some defense sources say that all goals will be completed by the end of the week. In commenting on the anticipated length of the operation, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that "Hamas has been hit hard, but we have not yet reached the objective that we set for ourselves and therefore the operation is continuing."
