Impeccable timing

Yesterday:

Hamas can be trusted, former US President Jimmy Carter said Monday, in an interview on NBC's 'Today' show. Carter spoke with NBC's Meredith Vieira about his perspective on the Middle East conflict, and his new book, "We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land."

According to the former president, Hamas never deviated from their commitments as per the ceasefire agreement. He said that, during his meetings with Hamas leaders in Damascus and Gaza, he was promised that Hamas would honor agreements between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel, as long as they were supported by public referendum.

Today:

An IDF non-commissioned officer was killed on Tuesday morning when a roadside bomb planted by Gaza operatives along Israel's border with the Strip detonated under the army vehicle he was traveling in.

Another officer was seriously wounded and two soldiers were lightly hurt in the incident near the Kissufim crossing, the army said.

[...]

In related news, the army said Tuesday that Hamas fired a Kassam into the sea on Sunday to test the range of rockets still in its arsenal.

The morning's incident marks the first clash between troops and Gaza gunmen since the IDF completed its withdrawal from Gaza on Wednesday.

However, it wasn't the first time Palestinians had launched attacks from the Strip since Operation Cast Lead ended over a week ago with Israel's unilateral cease-fire last Saturday followed by a truce declared by Hamas the next day.

Last Tuesday, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on IDF soldiers in two separate incidents near the Gaza border, and eight mortar shells were also fired at southern Israel. No one was wounded and no damage was reported in the attacks.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at January 27, 2009 08:50 AM