Israel Update for October 2006

Palestinians On Edge

With the Middle East volcano spewing up more dangerous plumes, tremors continued to rock the Palestinian Authority zones during October. All out civil war is considered a real possibility by many observers in the coming days. As negotiations to form a national unity government faltered, additional armed clashes broke out between Hamas and PLO Fatah forces in the tense Gaza Strip, leaving 20 people dead and many others wounded. The violence prompted overall PA leader Mahmoud Abbas to declare his intention to dissolve the Hamas-run government and hold new parliamentary elections if Hamas did not agree to include Fatah members in the cabinet by mid-November.

Indicating broad international support for Abbas in his intensifying struggle with Hamas, Javier Solana told reporters in Beirut that the EU fully backs his plan to set up a new PA cabinet comprised mainly of non-religious technocrats. "We need a government of experts that could operate as a government of unity," he said. Solana's comments came soon after he met with Abbas in Ramallah, vowing full EU support in his struggle to bring in a more acceptable government that would allow the EU, US, Norway, Japan and other internationl donors to resume full financial support to the beleagured Palestinian Authority-severed after Hamas established a radical Muslim government last March.

Most Israeli Mideast analysts predicted that further blood would flow before such a government is successfully established. "The Muslim militants are not going to give up without a significant fight," predicted one prominent analyst on Israel's Channel Two news. Despite growing pressure descending upon them, Hamas officials were said to be greatly encouranged when they were invited, along with leaders of the smaller Islamic Jihad terror group, to attend an emergency meeting with senior Iranian and Syrian government officials in Damascus in late October.

Israeli military forces continued to operate in the Gaza Strip during the month, searching for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit while attempting to stop ongoing Palestinian Kassam rocket fire upon Israeli civilian communities near the Hamas-ruled zone. A series of Palestinian arms smuggling tunnels were discovered and destroyed as IDF forces returned to operate in the Philadelphi corrider adjacent to Egypt. Several senior army commanders said that the IDF could not repeat its "mistaken" 2005 evacuation of the area, deemed strategically vital to prevent further weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

While the overall situation in the Middle East continues to be unsettleing at best, it is vital to recall that the Lord of Creation does not slumber nor sleep, but is still actively watching over His chosen people. "All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, oh Lord, when they have heard the words of Your mouth. And they will sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord!" (Psalm 138:5).