Israel Steps Up Threats to Invade Gaza Strip

[tekisui]

"Every passing day brings us closer to a broad operation in Gaza," Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told reporters. "We are not looking forward to it (and) we would be happy if circumstances prevented it."

(snip)

Israel, which controls official Gazan border crossings, began reducing the amount of fuel pumped to Gaza this week. It also wants to reduce power supplies but has put that on hold.

The sanctions prompted UN and EU delegates to urge Israel not to impose "collective punishment", illegal under international law, on Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

Israel's attorney general also opposes cutting electricity supplies to Gaza on humanitarian grounds.

Britain said it was "deeply concerned" by reports that Israel had reduced Gaza's fuel supply and was considering power cuts, and had spoken to the Israeli government about the matter.

(snip)

Weighed against an invasion of Gaza is Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's upcoming peace conference with Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas under U.S. auspices. While Olmert may want calm, he is also under pressure from right-wing coalition partners to hit Hamas hard.

"The present situation will not last," Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon, a close Olmert confidant, told Reuters when asked during an interview about a possible Gaza invasion. "I prefer that we use sanctions. I believe that the implementation of sanctions will be effective. But we have our doubts about it," he said, but added: "If they (Hamas) stop sending rockets over, our need for the weapons of sanctions, or other weapons, will not be an issue."

On Monday, Israel suffered its second combat death of the month in Gaza when special forces clashed with Hamas gunmen. Two gunmen and a Palestinian civilian were also killed.

more at link: http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSL30713363