Israeli war machine chugs on in Gaza

Tel Aviv carrying out assassination policy as world is preoccupied with uprisings. Taking advantage of world\'s preoccupation with the Arab Spring and impending presidential elections in the US and France this year, Israel continued its attack on the Gaza Strip for the fourth consecutive day yesterday killing five more Palestinians. As many as 23 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the assault, political experts said. However, neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are seeking an escalation towards a full-scale war. Efforts to calm down the situation in the impoverished and besieged Gaza have already started. \"I believe the escalation in the security situation [in Gaza] is an attempt by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to deliver a message that despite the truce, Israel still has the upper hand, and it will continue emphasising its power,\" said Hunaida Ganem, Director of Ramallah-based Palestinian Centre for Israeli Studies. From: Gulfnews