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Palestinian Arabs

Israeli tanks come to ‘Palestinians’ rescue


By Stan Goodenough
June 19, 2007

A squadron of IDF tanks crossed into the Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon to rescue 15 wounded Arabs who wanted to flee the newly-created “Hamastan” for the Fatah-controlled PA areas in Judea and Samaria.

Some of the Arabs had been wounded Monday night when a fellow “Palestinian” opened fire on them in an apparent attempt to dissuade them from leaving the strip.

A firefight with IDF troops ensued during which a Fatah commander was killed, reportedly by the Hamas gunman.

Pictures of the wounded men lying unreachable in the sun were shown in the Israeli press Tuesday.

Watching journalists reported that IDF soldiers threw bottles of water and provided food for the wounded men and approximately 190 Arabs hoping to cross “into” Israel.

Sky News showed footage of IDF Merkava tanks passing through the Erez Crossing into Gaza in what was understood to be an attempt to help get the wounded men into the safety of Red Star of David ambulances which then took them to Israeli hospitals.

Apart from a typical Israeli humanitarian gesture, the unusual and highly ironic scene graphically highlighted Israel’s decision to openly side with those “Palestinians” opposed to Hamas since the latter group staged its bloody and successful coup in Gaza last week.

Over the weekend Israel, the United States and the European Union aligned themselves strongly with Fatah leader and Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, saying the Hamas putsch had radically reshaped the political landscape and could be used to jump-start the long-stalled land-for-peace process.

Abbas has leaped to grab the extended hands, seeing – according to conservative analysts – a golden opportunity to secure “Palestinian” statehood in what the world calls the West Bank.

Those same analysts have warned that Hamas could in time take over that “liberated West Bank” just as it took control of Gaza.

Meanwhile Israel has authorized the delivery into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing of fuel, food and other supplies.

Food and medicine has also been allowed to enter the strip via the main Karni Crossing.

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