Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza

[Not Afraid]

Did something provoke this attack - I mean a specific incident? Or, it is just escalating based on the long and dirty past?

[Alex]

The most recent provocation has been the kidnapping of that Israeli soldier. Pretty much a steady line of escalation since.

[Capt Jack]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

The most recent provocation has been the kidnapping of that Israeli soldier.

well, yes and no.

the kidnapping of the soldier is indeed at the root, but the Hammas attempts to create an environment of "we'll get what we want by forcing you to bargain with lives" and Israels refusal to get pulled into negotiations/prisoner exchanges that would invariably lead to more and more of the same tactic being used against them, and to a greater and greater extent. ie: giving in to blackmail, is what has caused things to advance so quickly.

Israel said 'not now, not ever' and have decided to show them exactly what they've bargained for instead. at this point its far beyond a single soldier being kidnapped.

if all the soldiers were surrendered right now, I think Israel would gladly drop the whole thing....but at this point....no one else will.

mi dos centavos

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Did something provoke this attack - I mean a specific incident? Or, it is just escalating based on the long and dirty past?

From CNN:

"Israel Defense Forces said the Haifa rockets came from Lebanon and blamed the strike on Hezbollah, whose guerrillas triggered the violence when they attacked inside Israel on Wednesday, killing eight Israeli soldiers and capturing two more"

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Did something provoke this attack - I mean a specific incident? Or, it is just escalating based on the long and dirty past?

It is a reaction to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier (now three soldiers). The Archduke Ferdinand of our time... OR to put it another way, escalation based on a long and dirty past.