In a Broadening Offensive, Israel Steps Up Diplomacy

by 158 | January 1, 2009 at 09:10 pm

31 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

They need, both sides, a cease fire and talks

but a quick cease fire without an agreement

on non aggression both sides would do

nothing to end the cycles of violence.

With Israeli troops and tanks massing along the border with Gaza in preparation for a possible ground invasion, Israel also pursued diplomatic avenues to explain its positions.

The Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, flew to Paris to meet with French leaders who are seeking ways to promote a cease-fire. Before she left, Ms. Livni suggested that Israel was seeking more time for its military operation, which officials say is intended to bring an end to the rocket fire from Gaza that has plagued southern Israel for years.

The Israeli Air Force on Thursday afternoon bombed the house of Nizar Rayyan, a senior Hamas leader, killing him along with his four wives and nine of his children, four of them under the age of 18