Israeli boy crippled in Israeli Southern town

Eight year old Osher Twito was critically injured yesterday from a Kassam rocket near his house in the Southern border town of Sederot. He has lost a part of left leg while his right leg is also in critical condition. His older brother was also seriously injured in the rocket attack while their mother and a friend were treated for shock. An Israeli government spokesman was quoted as saying Israel would retaliate to ensure its citizens would be not fired upon wantonly. Israeli Jets did attack a number of positions in the Gaza strip in wake of the attack. These sorties were not different from other actions taken by the IDF in the last few weeks. One thing seems certain, the massive incursion into the strip that has been talked about for so long is still on hold for now. The specific retaliation that the government spokesman was referring to was still unclear. In any case the head of the opposition Benjamin Netanyahu from the Likud party was highly critical of government policies. He was quoted as saying pinpoint military actions were not effective in stopping rocket attacks into the country. A massive military incursion and control over the strip was the only real way to stop or at least lessen considerably the attacks. Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is very hesitant to order this incursion for a number of reasons. Retaking control of the strip would ostensibly mean that Israel’s strategy of disengaging from the strip was a mistake, a very costly one at that. Another reason would be the end of the peace process for a few more years. The present process was to lead to a signed agreement within the next 10 months. Mr Olmert had promised a signed agreement to President Bush and the entire world, a massive incursion would make that promise ludicrous. Many analysts believe that facts on the ground will force Olmerts hand and the Israeli Army will go into the strip sooner or later. Olmert is hoping that there will not be major casualties in any attack that will force his hand. The Hamas on the other hand is trying to force Israel’s hand and is very interested in facing the IDF in combat. They were very encouraged by the success of the Hizbullah in the last Lebanon war and feel they will be able to inflict heavy casualties if and when The IDF enters the strip. Many analysts have said that this war will be in the summer. All relevant sides are getting ready