Catastrophe Averted

Israel dodged a huge bullet this morning, or I should rather say, a huge explosion this morning, as a suicide bomber from Islamic Jihad attempted to drive his truck laden with 4 tons of explosives into Erez Crossing.

No Israelis were injured in the attack, which was meant to coincide with a raid on Israeli positions there in order to kidnap Israeli soldiers to be used as ransom.

The truck exploded on the Gaza side of the border, blowing a hole in a pedestrian passageway leading out of the terminal and into Gaza. But no pedestrians were there because it was still early and the IDF said no soldiers were wounded.

Shortly after the explosion, an IAF helicopter fired a missile at a nearby jeep which the army said was accompanying the exploding truck. The army said that terrorists apparently planned to use the jeep to kidnap soldiers or to penetrate across the border after the explosion. One of the terrorists was killed as the missile slammed into the vehicle, Palestinians reported.

The attack on Erez came as a Hamas delegation was returning to Gaza from Egypt after holding cease-fire talks. Hamas officials said Thursday that the round of talks failed, and blamed Israel for not accepting a proposed six-month truce. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the group had yet to make an official statement.

Abu Ahmad, the Islamic Jihad spokesman, said Thursday's bombing was meant to "send a message" to Israel that if it didn't accept a truce "Gaza is not going to be a place where you will enjoy stability."

Here's the message that is really sent - we want to destroy Israel at all costs, and if you don't agree to our demands to cease to exist, we'll simply continue attacking, which is the same thing we terrorists have been doing all along. A mortar attack on the Crossing also occurred shortly thereafter.

For its part, the Israelis should point to this and show just how insane it is to continue negotiating with terrorists who have no interest in peace, but rather seek to blow up as many people as possible.

At the same time, over two thirds of the Israeli public is opposed to ceding the Golan to Syria. That comports with my experiences in 1993 when there was serious talk about Israel returning the Golan to Syria. All they have to do now is look and see what unilateral disengagement has wrought in Gaza. Far from peace, the Gazans have engaged in a rocket war that has seen thousands of rockets and mortars fired on Israeli cities - each with the intent to kill and maim Israelis. However, Shas shows that it is spineless by continuing to remain in the government despite clear evidence that PM Olmert is more than willing to negotiate away the Golan and would likely deal on Jerusalem if offered the opportunity. With regard to Syria, we're supposed to believe that the Syrians are going to keep their word on renouncing terrorism as that's one of the conditions set forth by the Israelis. Considering that the Syrians support Hizbullah and Hamas, to say nothing of providing safe haven for the terror masters for both groups along with providing material support to both, I'd say that Syria has little reason to give up those ties, especially since Iran would be none to pleased with that turn of events.

I also have no doubt that the usual suspects will complain about Israel's approval of more housing projects, claiming that these are the impediment to peace. Funny, but those same suspects don't complain too much about the suicide bombings, kassam attacks, and mortar fire on Israel as being an impediment.

Housing can always change hands. Someone killed or maimed by a kassam will never get back what they lost.

Also watch as those same Palestinian sympathizers make hay of the fact that Israel wont let Palestinians enter Israel to receive medical treatment as a result of the bombing at Erez.