Deadlines and Decisions

As July 4th dawns over Israel, Gilad Shalit is still being held by Palestinian terrorists, who now say that they will not give any more updates. The Jerusalem Post has a headline saying that the terrorists will not kill Shalit. There is no reason to believe what the terrorists have to say on the matter. There are none of the usual videos or audio to show that Shalit is alive.

Shalit's captors have cut off ties to the Egyptian mediators. Prime Minister Olmert went to Sderot in a surprise visit. Sderot has been beseiged with countless kassam rocket attacks from Gaza. Another kassam was fired towards Israel, but landed near the Gaza fence.

The terrorists are still busy. One member of the al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade was killed by the IDF in Jenin as a cache of car bombs was discovered. The PRCs are threatening PA members who are suspected of collaborating with Israel.

There's an interesting analysis piece that suggests that the crisis is pushing Hamas and Fatah closer together.

In a unique gesture to Hamas, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday accompanied Hamas's Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on a visit to the ruins of the prime minister's office, which was destroyed in an Israeli air raid.

The joint appearance of the two was aimed at sending a message that all Palestinians were united in the face of Israel's threats and actions. Although Abbas and some in his Fatah party had condemned the attack on the IDF post that resulted in the abduction of Shalit and the killing of two IDF soldiers, they have openly backed Hamas's call for the release of prisoners from Israeli jails.

I think that's the opposite conclusion that should be reached. This conflict was generated and is continuing to be used by Hamas and Fatah to try and eliminate the other side. This rapproachment is only to avoid the inevitable IDF raid that will eliminate one or both groups. It's to give the terrorists more time to try and figure out a way - other than releasing Shalit - to get out of this mess.

We're also learning that Eliyahu Asheri's captors who were captured in Ramallah yesterday had no intention of negotiating for his release.

UPDATE:
Israel warns of a long war if Shalit isn't released. Considering that terrorists haven't stopped waging war against Israel since it was founded, it's about time Israel started returning the favor.

Technorati: terrorism, fatah, Gilad, Shalit, Olmert, Eliyahu, Asheri, Ashri, Abbas, Rains, Summer, cavaliers, wrath, PRC, Hamas, Gaza, palestinian, Israel