Israel releases medical aid, IDF kill 2 women and child

"We have no intention of helping the Palestinian government," Mr. Olmert was quoted as telling the Israeli Cabinet, after the agreed to spending US$11 Mn on medical supplies from the US$50Mn taxes they have stolen so far." We will render such assistance as may be necessary for humanitarian needs."

He then jetted off to the US to see President Bush on Tuesday ostensibly to discuss the new Security Fence line. He is quoted as saying he would prefer negotiations with the Palestinians, but is prepared to act unilaterally.Israel's Defense Ministry also announced the approval of expanding the boundaries of four Jewish settlements. The Israeli army fired missiles at a car in Gaza City on Saturday, killing Dadouh, Islamic Jihad's most senior militant, Hanan Aman, 25, her five-year-old son and the child's grandmother. Israel Defense Minister Amir Peretz ordered the IDF this morning to carry out an investigation into the killing.... and he might as well save his breath.

In Sharm El Sheik Egypt at the World Economic Forum The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli foreign minister, Ms.Tzipi Livni, met in the highest-level contacts between the two sides since the radical Islamic faction Hamas won the Palestinian elections in January.

"After some preparations, a meeting of the president with Prime Minister Olmert will be the next step," Ms. Livni said, according to Reuters. She appealed to the international community to remain firm in its rejection of Hamas.

"It is a terrorist government, on the other hand we want to help the Palestinian people and not to punish them. .." which is a load of horse shit from this woman who prays weekly at her father's grave for Erutz Israel.

Israel says it views the Palestinian Authority as one entity and will not conduct formal negotiations with the Palestinian leadership unless and until the Hamas-led government meets several conditions, including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.

Hamas / Fatah strife takes lives in Gaza

Meanwhile in Gaza Strip a "large bomb" (150lb) was found near the Gaza home of Rashid Abu Shbak, on his route from his home to work, Shabak was appointed by Prime Minister Abbas to oversee several security agencies, a move that upset the Hamas government, which says it should be in charge of the agencies.

The day previously , a bomb badly wounded a senior intelligence official, Maj. Gen. Tareq Abu Rajab, and killed one of his bodyguards, in an elevator at his headquarters in Gaza City.Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas, called for an investigation. "We are asking not to make early judgments, accusations or responses that might lead to tension in the Palestinian streets," said Haniyeh's spokesman, Ghazi Hamad.... because the immediate assumption is that the hand of Hamas was seen in the assassination attempt.

Abu Rajab, 59, was taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza for emergency surgery. He was then transported to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for further treatment. (see pic)

Maj Gen Tareq Abu Rajab, recently led a 2 day visit to Jordan to investigate the evidence against the Hamas militants. The senior Palestinian diplomat in Jordan, Atta Khairy, said Abu Rajab was briefed on the facts and "shown evidence on the arms smuggling allegedly by Hamas activists." Hamas officials, along with the Syrian government which hosts Hamas' exiled leadership have denied the allegations since the cache's discovery 3 weeks ago.

On April 18th Jordanian Police had seized weapons, including missiles and rockets, that Hamas members had stockpiled in various parts of the country. He said the seized arms included Iranian-made Katyusha rockets (which have recently been faslling on Israel from Gaza - indeed Dadouh was supposed to have actually fired one before his death) and light anti-tank weapons known as LAW missiles.He said the government suspected that more arms had been hidden but "not yet discovered."

Nasser Judeh, Jordan's Government spokesman also said 20 Hamas actovosts had been arrested at the same time.

The tempo is increasing, the temperature is rising.