Israel is rapidly pulling its troops out of the Gaza Strip as Hamas halted its rocket attacks across the border into southern Israel.  The fragile cease fire between the bitter enemies is playing out just in time for the inauguration of Barack Obama who, mysteriously, never staked out a public position on the Israeli offensive in Gaza which began on December 27th in response to continued rocket attacks against it by Hamas.  Speculation abounds that the Israeli government seeks to start off with a clean slate, so to speak, in dealing with Obama, free of the international controversy surrounding the Gaza operation.

The usual chest thumping is following the military conflict with Hamas claiming victory as a result of what it is terming an Israeli retreat , despite taking huge casualties from the fighting, and Israel touting the damage it inflicted on its enemy.  Meanwhile over 1,300 are dead as a result of the fighting.  You can takepart in learning more about the Israeli Palestinian conflict by checking out Peace Now.

LINKS:

Irish Times: Israel hopes to pull out troops ahead of Obama inauguration

Bloomberg: Israel proceeds with Gaza pullout as Hamas halts rocket attacks

BBC News: Israel “wants rapid Gaza pullout”