MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Tough Choice: The emboldened, post-Arab Spring world of Islam would not take too kindly to an “invasion” of Jews upon a “helpless” Palestinian population. Will Israel back down and risk appearing weak when terror makes a stand, or will Israel demonstrate strength and risk further inflaming an already explosive situation? …

Blood Drunk: Khalid Meshal

By FARES AKRAM, JODI RUDOREN and ALAN COWELL, The New York Times – “GAZA CITY — The top leader of Hamas dared Israel on Monday to launch a ground invasion of Gaza and dismissed diplomatic efforts to broker a cease-fire in the six-day-old conflict, as the Israeli military conducted a new wave of deadly airstrikes on the besieged Palestinian enclave, including a second hit on a 15-story building that houses media outlets. A volley of rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel included one that hit a vacant school.

Speaking at a news conference in Cairo, where the diplomatic efforts were under way, the Hamas leader, Khaled Meshal, suggested that the Israeli infantry mobilization on the border with Gaza was a bluff on the part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

‘If you wanted to launch it, you would have done it,’ Mr. Meshal told reporters. He accused Israel of using the invasion threat as an attempt to ‘dictate its own terms and force us into silence.’

Rejecting Israel’s contention that Hamas had precipitated the conflict, Mr. Meshal said the burden was on the Israelis. ‘The demand of the people of Gaza is meeting their legimitate demands — for Israel to be restrained from its aggression, assassinations and invasions, and for the siege over Gaza to be ended,’ he said.

Mr. Netanyahu met with top ministers Monday evening and Israeli media said they discussed the next steps in the Gaza conflict, including the possibility of a truce. Israeli officials declined to comment on those reports.

The Hamas Health Ministry said Monday evening that a total of 107 people had been killed since Wednesday morning, when Israeli airstrikes began, following months of Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.” Read more.

Israel Issues Stern Warning To Hamas: We Are Ready To ‘Significantly Expand’ Gaza Offensive If Rocket Attacks Continue – “The Israeli army is ready to ‘significantly expand’ its operation in Gaza, the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday as Hamas launched fresh rocket attacks on Tel Aviv. Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said ‘The soldiers are ready for any activity that could take place’.” Read more.

Israel May Be ‘Running Out Of Targets’ in Gaza – “Retired Israeli Defense Force Major General Dan Harel told reporters that Israel is “running out of targets” to strike in Gaza and Israel is “moving quite fast to a turning point,” according to Adam Kredo of The Washington Free Beacon… Israel has launched more than 1,350 strikes (and counting) on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip since the start of Operation Pillar of Defense.” Read more.