You should be able to see Netanya on this map - just south north* of Tel Aviv.
A senior Hizbullah official said that the organization has set a new target for itself - the city of Netanya, as reported by the Iranian news agency Fars in Lebanon.
There are also reports that the IAF has struck an army base in Northern Beirut.
Sounds like it was certainly a tough day of fighting in Southern Lebanon.
Nine Israel Defense Forces soldiers died Wednesday and 27 others were injured in the hardest day of fighting in southern Lebanon since the war began two weeks ago. Five of the injured soldiers are in serious condition.
The IDF believes that Hezbollah lost 15 of its fighters in Wednesday's fighting.
Eight of the IDF dead - five soldiers and three officers - were from the Golani Brigade; they were killed in fighting in the town of Bint Jbail. The ninth soldier, a paratrooper, was killed last night in Maroun Ras.
Democracy Project has a post up on how blogs can report on war news, often challenging the MSM. I'd agree they have some impact.
NZ Bear has a great map up, site seems to be having a little trouble this minute, hopefully up soon. Links to follow the war news: Pajamas Media, or read a few regional blogs. I like to check the JP headlines, as well.
*Damned Middle East is upside down, anyway.
July 27, 2006
A Letter to the Prime Minister of Lebanon
Dear Sir
You want an immediate cease fire? I suggest you copy the example and have the statesmanship to do what the emperor of Japan did 61 years ago. Declare immediate “Peace, honourable Peace”. The details, as at the end of world war two, can be worked out later.
The Hizbollah, part of the Lebanese government started this, and you should be in a position to finish it.
Posted by: Susan | Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 03:12 AM
July 26, 2006
For Israel, the conflict in Lebanon is a must-win situation
Iran is known to be demanding that Syria increase its support for Hezbollah in order to enable it to better resist the pressure from the Israel Defense Forces. Just as the United States would like Israel to defeat Hezbollah, Iran does not want the organization destroyed and is doing everything in its power to prevent this. This shows that the military struggle has still not reached its peak, nor have the diplomatic efforts.
It is important for the Israeli public to know that there are critical issues to be decided. What matters is not the future of the Shiite town of Bint Jbail or the Hezbollah positions in Maroun Ras, but the future and safety of the State of Israel. This struggle will also determine Iran’s position in the Middle East and its role among the Arab states. Some of the Arab states recognize this fact and do not wish Hezbollah to emerge victorious in this campaign. Their stance does not stem from love of Israel, but from concerns for their own future.
If Israel’s deterrence is shaken as a result of failure in battle, the hard-won peace with Jordan and Egypt will also be undermined. Israel’s deterrence is what lies behind the willingness of moderate Arabs to make peace with it. Hamas, which calls for Israel’s destruction, will be strengthened and it is doubtful whether any Palestinians will be willing to reach agreements with Israel. Therein lies the link between the fight with Hezbollah and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
There is also a link between Israel’s deterrence and what the Israeli public feels, as well as what it is fed. Unfortunately, over the past few days, a new national sport has emerged in the Israeli media: criticizing the IDF to the point of humiliation and unearthing failures, real or otherwise. The war has barely started, yet there are already calls for a commission of inquiry. If this had been the case during the War of Independence, we would not even have managed to take Jaffa.
My colleague Yoel Marcus wrote in his latest article that we must win, but added in the final paragraph that the IDF is a “stupid army.” A stupid army has no chance to win this war. I do not agree with the conclusion that the IDF is a stupid army. It is one of the most sophisticated modern armies, and its capabilities are broad. In the 1982 Lebanon War, the IDF was smarter than its leaders, who led Israel into that war.
There is a whole generation in Israel that may not recall how many useless cease-fire agreements were signed in Lebanon. The most significant, which followed the 1978 Litani Operation, established UNIFIL. Israel does not need another cease-fire of this sort in southern Lebanon; it needs a new reality that, at the least, will distance Hezbollah’s military wing from this area. This is clear to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, but Nasrallah and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are trying to prevent it.
(snip) http://www.israpundit.com/2006/
Live news feeds from Israel...
http://israpundit.com/2006/?page_id=3
Posted by: Susan | Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 03:21 AM
Isn't Netanya NORTH of Tel Aviv!!
Posted by: Mary | Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 08:17 AM
Why is it so easy to become a muslim. What is the attraction. Is christianity or judaism as attractive and easy to become-people like to feel they belong.
Posted by: splashtc | Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 10:36 AM
from cnn.com
Hezbollah says it has fired a new rocket, Khaibar-1, at the Israeli town of Afoula, south of Haifa, the Associated Press reports. It would be the farthest into Israel that a Hezbollah rocket has yet landed.
i wonder if the Iranian technical assistants are finding enough restaurants to spend their per diem at...
Posted by: rwilymz | Friday, July 28, 2006 at 10:30 AM
"i wonder if the Iranian technical assistants are finding enough restaurants to spend their per diem at..."
I take back the 'grouch' comment, Rwilymz.
Posted by: Phoenix | Friday, July 28, 2006 at 11:13 AM