President Carter Meets With Hamas

Although he was advised not to, President Carter went ahead and met with Hamas on Monday. He said the Islamic group Hamas was willing to accept the Jewish state as a "neighbor next door". However, the militants did not match their upbeat words with concrete steps to halt violence. That is because they don't intend to. Their goal is to wipe Israel off the map and they won't be happy until they do. Hamas has repeatedly confounded observers with its conflicting messages. Actions on the ground such as seven rockets were fired on Israel from Hamas-ruled Gaza Monday, including one that wounded a 4 year old boy, contradicted the Islamic militant group's positive words about coexistence and a truce. I think President Carter wasted his time and the taxpayers money on a worthless trip.

Invasion of Gaza Ruled Out

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday ruled out a broad military operation in the Gaza Strip, deflecting rising anger after an 8 year old boy lost a leg in a Palestinian rocket attack. However, Israel's top diplomat warned it will be impossible to reach a peace agreement with Palestinians as long as the Hamas rulers of Gaza continue to push violence. Ohmert said they should not let anger be their operational plan, in response to clamoring for a full-scale invasion of northern Gaza to take over the areas where militants have been launching the rockets. There were calls for the Cabinet for assassinating Hamas political leaders. residents of the battered town of Sderot near Gaza blocked the main highway entrance into Jerusalem as the Cabinet met.

Hamas Rounds up Fatah Supporters

Hamas took quick action and founded up hundreds of Fatah supporters. This was in order to shore up their control of the Gaza Strip. They promised additional steps against its bitter rival one day after a huge Fatah rally ended in mayhem and violence. Hamas forces opened fire as an estimated 250,000 Palestinians were beginning to leave a rally marking the third anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat.