Israeli TV: “US and EU object to Israel’s plan for an offensive n the Gaza Strip”

Tuesday May 08, 2007 23:57

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli TV reported on Tuesday evening that the United States and the European Union objected to an Israeli plan to carry out a large-scaled military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Archive photo - israeli tanks invading the Gaza Strip

The TV report stated that Israel did not receive an American and European approval to this offensive.

Various Israeli leaders has been vowing to carry an offensive in the Gaza Strip in order, according to the leaders, to stop the firing of homemade shells into Israeli areas adjacent to the Strip.

Meanwhile, Palestinian chief negotiator, Dr. Sa’eb Erekat, held a meeting on Tuesday evening with leaders of five Palestinian factions, and discussed the Israeli threats to invade the Gaza Strip.

Several Israeli military leaders stated recently that they are awaiting orders from the political leadership to carry a large-scaled offensive in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Maan news Agency reported.

The agency added that the army presented recently five proposals which included expanding the attacks, especially near the border fence with the Gaza Strip, and to fire at certain areas without invading certain cities and refugee camps.

So far, the Israeli leadership did not issue any direct order to invade the Gaza Strip, especially amidst the hash criticisms over the conducts of the Israeli government, and its leadership, during last summer’s war on Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Ministers, Ehud Olmert, who is also facing calls to resign during his failure in leading the Lebanon war, is slated to hold a meeting with his political-security council in order to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the recent Israeli intelligence reports which claimed that the power of resistance groups in Gaza ins increasing.