to re-arm? A research report whose authors say is the "first comprehensive analysis of the Hamas buildup" reveals details of massive stockpiling of advancing weapons by Hamas, according to The New York Times. It quoted a senior official in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, who demanded anonymity, that his conclusion from the report is that Israel took the risk of letting Hamas use a period of calm to stockpile advanced weapons. The Times obtained a copy of the report, which is to be released Thursday. Authored by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, it states that "what is very clear is that Hamas, like Hizbullah in Lebanon, is aiming to use rocket fire to draw the Israeli military." Hamas began consolidating its power immediately after the Israeli government destroyed Jewish communities in Gush Katif and has smuggled more than 80 tons of explosives and anti-tank rockets similar to those used by Hizbullah in the Second Lebanon War two years ago. The study warns that an additional truce recognized by Israel would allow Hamas to further its buildup in preparation for an IDF invasion of the region. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/144734

stupid is as stupid does.

Hamas will need every last one of them when the Israelis finally tire of these tit-for-tat games and seriously move to step on Gaza's head. Large no.s availed the Arabs little in past years when the foolishness stopped and everyone really tangled. Not a matter of "if", only "when".

Since 1976, Israel had been the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance. In 2004, Israel was receiving $2.16 billion a year in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants from the Department of Defense. This amount has increased in recent years due to non-military economic aid being shifted to military aid. A large proportion of this military aid is for the purchase of American military equipment only.

Sorry, you are wrong. Even though the world gave Israel 6 weeks freedom of action, Hezbolla shattered the IDF with only 6000 warriors fighting from small villages and forests. Hamas has 20000 fighting from densely populated areas. While Hezbolla was unpopular in the West, Hamas is loved. Any fighting will lead to many "civilian" deaths so Israel will be under pressure to stop any assault within days. And don't forget, when Israel assaults Hamas, Hezbolla will attack with the new weapons they received during the Olmert regime.

It could be dangerous for Israel ; you won't find anymore 20 000 good soldiers in Tsahal.

Link up with Hizbollah. Then justice will arrive for the Palestinians. Free Palestine.

I just authorized additional armoured personnel carriers and fuel supplies to be delivered through Nahal Oz

..WE ARE COLLECTING IN ARMS FROM THE RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS.WILL THESE NOW BE SENT ,VIA FATEH TO FIRM UP A HIGHLY COMPEDITIVE,LUCRATIVE EXPORT TRADE?

It will not matter that the Winograd ccommission failed to conduct a fair and impartial review of the Lebanon War because Jewish history will be merciless in condemning the selfish, corrupt, and incompetent group of hack politicians called Kadima. The cynical nature of the party was made evident when Olmert appointed a labor leader with no military qualifications as defense minister because of political considerations. This lack of competence and experience set the stage for the failure of the war against Hezbollah. Although the IDF showed courage, the incompetent leadership had no real strategy to win. Thus, it was this failure to defeat a relatively small group of entrenched terrorists that have emboldened other terrorist groups like Hamas to actually believe that they could defeat Israel. Compounding the failure to even try to win the war against Hezbollah was the arrogance of insisting on international troops to act as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon. In fact, the international presence has done nothing to prevent the accumulation of more missiles to Hezbollah. The relative quiet on the northern front is nothing more than a lull in the fighting. Peace Now, a shady organization of loopy leftists and cynical men and women who refuse to divulge their finances, continues to besmirch Israel in the arena of world opinion. Instead of focusing on the Arabs violence against Israel and the desire of just about all Israelis to have a just settlement, Peace Now continually pushes for further Israeli concessions and urges the US to pressure Israel into an imposed settlement. When will Israelis wake up?

I guess "gunman" is a little better than a euphemism like "freedom fighter."

"shattered the IDF" Oh please. The Lebs managed to slow the advance of the IDF at best. Is that what qualifies as a glorious Arab victory after so many Arabian rump paddlings in past decades? Hizbullah has been quiet as a mouse since that episode for good reason. When the swords finally come out, all the world-squalling won't be able to stop an all too predictable outcome.

'predictable outcome?' Perhaps the great US marines could come and demonstrate the 'predictable outcome' as they did so gloriously in Iraq (that was a success!) and Vietnam. (mind those men in pyjamas - they might defeat you!)

What's the difference between a 'resistance fighter' and a 'terrorist?'

- Report: "Hamas has 20,000 gunmen" - Bereny: And Israel has one god. We'll win.

The only thing that slowed the IDF or the US Marines were stupid political hacks. The US defeated the North Vietnamese but not the obsessive compulsive US news media. Had the IDF used it’s vast resources Lebanon would still be suffering stone age conditions. The same can be said for Iraq. When countries like the US or Israel show restraint the stupid diaper heads take it as a sign of weakness since they come from valueless societies where iron fist rule is the norm. We also note that Islamonazis celebrate victory at their members demise not their living through the battle. So in their twisted Islamic reality they actually won by not taking any territory but losing a huge percentage of their fighting forces. I can only pray that the Islamonazis are allowed a stunning victory in the next war and all their members are decimated. Fortunately western cultures base winning and losing on territory gained and low casualty counts, not the Islamic way.

we increase the force of hamas and the bomb is continue to give us the freedom

That was me dei :)

Actually Pakistan got more money in the 1980s but it was not "overt aid" like Israel gets and of course the largest recipients per capita of aid is the Palestinians - even post "economic sanctions", which have led to MORE money being given to them.

Iraq has been improving for several months now. Also note the "insurgents" are pretty much only targeting Iraqi civilians like the brave "insurgents" of Hamas and Hizbollah

The world didn't "give Israel 6 weeks of freedom of action", it was continuously stop/start due to US pressure. Virtually all the battles between the IDF and Hizbollah were in the buildings of the villages - villages that Israel bizarely decided to take by ground what it could have flattened from the air. The only thing that was correct in your post was the quotes around the civilians when refering to Palestinian deaths.

They linked up with Hizbollah in 1993, but that is only 15 years ago and you may not be up to date....

Maybe olmert and bush can send them more.

they wouldn't need it. You know, these kind of guys just throw you from the roof top if they don't like you. Or lynch you in the street. Why would they waste a bullet, when there are such methods...?

"he who pays the piper, calls the tune." hamas (and hezbollah) won't attack until iran tells them to. and so long as the money rolls into hamas' pockets, they will continue to "militarize" gaza, until there isn't a single living, breathing soul who isn't on their payroll. that much they've learnt from hezbollah - it's what makes them so "popular". and it's also why they periodically lob a few shells at the border crossings, or attack the fuel depot that's supplying their fuel, and destroy any and all economic development that might spring up, before it can undermine their grip on the population. to dislodge them, it will be necessary to cut off their funds, and break their monopoly on employment in gaza. once their "followers" have a better choice than "fight for us or starve", their popularity will wane rather quickly. gaza is not southern lebanon, and there are no unifil troops to hide behind, or friendly syrian border for resupply. and building bunkers in the sands of gaza is a dangerous game. so "learning from hezbollah" is probably more effective propaganda-wise than tactically. until there's change of regime in iran, tehran's running dogs will keep making trouble in the middle east.