Israel Continues Under Siege

The ongoing situation in Gaza has prompted one of Olmert's allies to withdraw from the coalition. Israel Beitienu has pulled out of his ruling coalition. Olmert's party needs to keep 60 seats in order to remain in power. If it drops below that number, a new government would be called for under Israeli law. After the withdrawal, Olmert's Kadima has 67 seats and is relying on the religious party Shas to remain in power. Shas has been balking at staying in the coalition, which means that Olmert's grasp on power is shaky at best.

As expected, Israel Beitienu will quit Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's coalition due to the commencement of talks on core issues such as Jerusalem, the refugees and the contours of a future Palestinian state, the party's chairman Avigdor Lieberman announced at a press conference Wednesday.

After Israel Beiteinu's 11 MKs leave, Olmert's coalition will number only 67 MKs and will be propped up on Shas, which has also threatened to leave the coalition.

"I want to thank Ehud Olmert for his candor, we have always been open with one another," Lieberman said. "It was obvious that we would not agree on fundamental issues."

The incessant rocket attacks against Israel (which occurred yet again today) - and Sderot in particular may be starting to have an effect on the Knesset. Politicians in the Israeli government are starting to realize just how badly Olmert is running things and that Israel's national security is severely hampered by Olmert's incessant attempts to make peace with the Palestinians who want nothing less than Israel's destruction.

Still, the Israeli government continues to make ovetures to Fatah's Abbas, by withdrawing from two outposts on the West Bank. Palestinians see such actions as a sign of weakness to be further exploited, and it only serves to undermine Israel's security posture. I'm sure that complaining to the UN about the rocket attacks will result in improving Israel's security situation-NOT.

Israel continues to send mixed messages because it continues to take military action against the various terrorist groups operating in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel killed one of Islamic Jihad's leaders, who had been wanted since 2002. Two of his bodyguards were wounded and captured by the Israelis.

Obeidi, who lived in the village of Burkin, was wanted by the IDF since 2002. He is responsible for a Tel Aviv terrorist attack in April 2006 that left 11 people dead

Islamic Jihad has carried out several suicide attacks in Israel in recent years, killing dozens.

Meanwhile, the IDF arrested 25 suspected terrorists in operations in the West Bank overnight Tuesday.

Capturing terrorists is a job that the Palestinian Authority should be doing, but isn't. Instead, the PA is busy complaining that yesterday's firefight in Gaza where 14 Hamas thugs were killed was a massacre that undermines the negotiations. Well, Fatah has to say that in order to curry favor with the masses, but it once again shows just how disinterested Fatah is in peace with Israel. They can't stop spinning.

The terrorists fired 30 kassams at Israel in all so far today, and Israel returned fire, and accidentally hit a vehicle carrying three civilians who were killed. Guess which part is going to get the most play in the media. Hamas claimed responsibility for 16 of the rockets fired.

UPDATE:
More than 50 rockets have been fired at Israel, and yet the media isn't exactly jumping through hoops to cover the barrages that keep slamming into Sderot and areas near Gaza. Meryl Yourish has been all over this for some time, and she was the one who coined "Israeli double standard time," which is just as applicable to today's events as ever.

UPDATE:
Israellycool is liveblogging the ongoing violence against Israel.