January 28, 2009

IAF attacks Hamas tunnels under Philadelphi Corridor
Jan. 27, 2009

JPost.com staff and Yaakov Katz , The Jerusalem Post, Jan. 27, 2009

IAF aircraft struck three arms smuggling tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor over Tuesday night.

The IDF Spokesman confirmed the strikes in an announcement, saying they were a response to a bomb attack against a military patrol along the border with the Gaza Strip which killed a warrant officer and wounded three others on Tuesday morning, including one who was severely hurt.

The IDF holds Hamas responsible for preserving the peace in Israel’s South, and will respond harshly to any attempt at undermining it, the announcement added.

Next week will see meeting of representatives from US, EU, Israel and possibly Egypt in Copenhagen for in-depth discussion of arms smuggling from Sinai into Gaza

by Roni Safer, Ynet News.com, Jan. 27, 2009

US President Barack Obama has no intention of waiting for the general elections in Israel before tackling one of the region’s most contentious problems.

Ynet has learned that a meeting of high-ranking officials on arms smuggling into Gaza is shaping up to take place as early as next week in Denmark. Expected participants include European nations, Israel and possibly Egypt.

President Obama vowed he would work aggressively to advance the process between Israel and the Palestinians, and this initiative is focused primarily on stabilizing the ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas.

Obama, officials in Jerusalem say, wants to make it clear that the US is present, active and adamant about making sure the necessary understandings are reached to ensure the situation is stabilized.

The already shaky ceasefire was tested again on Tuesday after an IDF patrol on the Gaza border was attacked near the Kissufim crossing. One soldier was killed and three others were seriously wounded in the attack. Israel responded by targeting one of the gunmen belonging to the cell responsible for the attack. (Continue Reading this Article)