Escalating or......

More news from Israel regarding their conflict with the Palestinians.

ISRAEL last night threatened to assassinate Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh if Hamas militants did not release a captured Israeli soldier unharmed.

The unprecedented warning was delivered to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter as Israel debated a deal offered by Hamas to free Corporal Gilad Shalit.

It came as Israeli military officials readied a second invasion force for a huge offensive into Gaza.

Hamas's Gaza-based political leaders, including Mr Haniyeh, had already gone into hiding.

But last night's direct threat to kill Mr Haniyeh, a democratically elected head of state, sharply raised the stakes.

The bid to free Corporal Shalit was brokered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who last night warned Hamas it faced severe consequences if it did not curb its "extreme stance" and described the growing conflict as a lightning rod for Palestinian vengeance.

Jerusalem has made no official comment, but Egyptian state media said Israel had found the offer unacceptable. Israel has not spelt out the terms demanded by Hamas, but earlier this week it refused to buy into talk of a prisoner swap.

Very serious news. One that is likely to cause Israel to lose support in its showdown at the moment.

But..........

I'm being a skeptic or a devil's advocate at the moment. But how credible is this so called letter. By who did Reuters and UPI learn of it from? Did either news agency actually see it.

There have been other questionable news reports out of the Israel/Gaza Strip of late. One saying Aksa Martyrs brigade had chemical and bio weapons. Another that said they were fired at Israel.(I can't find the link)

Israel is making no comment.

Assainating a foreign leader is serious business. Would Israel go that far for one soldier?(Who I'm betting is dead already) Are the Arabs lying right now about the assaination threat?

Think about it.

Allah Pundit thinks its a political ploy. Beth at MVRWC is skeptical.

Hat tip- Outside the Beltway
Also blogging on this- Don Surber, A Blog for all, Something and half of something