Shorts: Mideast

Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador

Venezuela ordered Israel's ambassador expelled from the country Jan. 6 in protest over the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The decision was made by President Hugo Chavez in Caracas.

"How far will this barbarism go?" Chavez asked on state television before the ambassador's expulsion was announced. "The president of Israel should be taken before an international court together with the president of the United States, if the world had any conscience."

As of midweek, the decision was the strongest reaction to the Gaza offensive by any country with ties to Israel. Venezuela's Foreign Ministry said its U.N. mission is joining with other countries in demanding the Security Council "apply urgent and necessary measures to stop this invasion." — ap




IDF uncovers kidnapping tunnel

A paratrooper force operating near the northern Gaza Strip neighborhood of

al-Atatra on Jan. 6 identified a tunnel intended for the kidnapping of soldiers. The tunnel's opening was hidden by a doll. The force also uncovered a number of weapons caches.

A senior IDF officer, speaking to a reporter through an encoded phone from inside Gaza, said, "We are finding a lot of tunnels, weapons, anti-aircraft missiles, grenades, explosive devices and weapons prepared for future attacks, such as motorbikes intended for kidnapping." The officer also said many homes throughout the strip were booby-trapped.

He said Hamas tends to booby-trap houses in such a way that the first step would set off an explosion, after which gunmen would attempt to kidnap the soldiers or their bodies through underground tunnels. — ynetnews.com




Israeli elections might be delayed

Speculation intensified this week about whether the Feb. 10 general election in Israel would have to be delayed due to Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip.

Knesset members from all the parties have been consulting in recent days and have come to the conclusion that it is still too early to publicly call for a delay. But there seemed to be a consensus that if the operation continues beyond the middle of next week, a delay would have to be considered.

So far, the only Knesset members who have spoken openly in favor of postponing the balloting have been Pensioners Party chairman Rafi Eitan and former Pensioners Knesset Member Elhanan Glazer, who is running with the Tzomet Party. However, many other Knesset members said privately that if large swaths of southern Israel remain under rocket fire, holding the election would be impossible.

Meanwhile, a new poll released Jan. 7 showed Likud leading Kadima. According to the Dialogue survey conducted for Israel's Channel 10, Likud was predicted to win 31 seats, Kadima 27 and Labor 16. — jpost.com




Hamas reportedly stealing aid supplies

Hamas operatives have seized control of humanitarian supplies passing through Gaza Strip crossings — including those sent by Israel and international organizations — according to reports cited by Ynetnews.com.

Reports say Hamas takes a cut out of all aid that arrives, including flour and medicine, Ynetnews reported, adding that supplies intended to be distributed without gain among the population are seized by Hamas and sold to residents at a profit.

One such incident was recorded Jan. 5, according to Ynetnews, when a convoy of trucks carrying supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing was fired upon and seized by Hamas gunmen.

Meanwhile, Arab media reported that in an IDF strike on a U.N. school, 30 civilians were killed, but Ynetnews reported that there is no legitimate way to prove gunmen were among those killed as Hamas tends to bury these bodies quickly, thus eliminating evidence in Israel's favor. — j. wire services




'Joe the Plumber' now a war correspondent

"Joe the Plumber," the Ohio man who became famous during the presidential campaign after asking Barack Obama about his tax plan, is heading to Israel as a war correspondent for PJTV.com, a conservative Web site.

Dubbed "Joe the Plumber" by the John McCain campaign, Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher was held up as an example of an American worker who would be hurt economically by Obama's election. Wurzelbacher says he'll spend 10 days covering the fighting and explaining why Israeli forces are mounting attacks against Hamas.

He told a Toledo television station that he wants "go over there and let [Israel's and Hamas'] 'Average Joes' share their story." — ap




Egypt blocks doctors from entering Gaza

A representative from a Norwegian medical aid organization was allowed to enter the Gaza Strip on Jan. 6, from a border crossing at Rafahon, Egypt, but most doctors have been denied entry by Egyptian authorities and spend their days drinking tea and coffee at a small, dusty cafe near the crossing's metal gates.

"This is a shame," said Dimitrios Mognie, a Greek anesthesiologist who arrived at Rafahon crossing loaded with medical supplies but was left waiting for days. "That in 2009 they have people in need of help from a doctor and we can go to help and they won't let us. This is crazy."

Mognie said he has worked in conflict zones from Iraq to Somalia.

Gaza's few hospitals have been swamped by more than 2,400 wounded through Jan. 7. Almost 600 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly half of the dead are civilians, according to U.N. and Palestinian officials. — ap