By Douglas Hamilton DAILY STAR LEBANON

Story Summary

Big armoured bulldozers with blades tall enough to plough through houses and carve a path for tanks and infantry were lined up on Israel’s border with Gaza on Monday, ready to invade if given the order.

Israel says it is prepared to move troops into Gaza but prefers a diplomatic solution.

Defiant rocket fire from Gaza drove many out in 2008 during a week of bombing from the air, artillery shelling and naval gunnery. Then Israel sent some 30,000 troops into Gaza.

Israel was condemned by some states for using “disproportionate force”.

Israel has had three civilians killed by a rocket.

The Islamist Hamas fighters of Gaza and their junior cohorts have newly-acquired weapons such as armour-busting anti-tank guided missiles to greet the Israeli invaders, conceivably killing many more than last time.

A ceasefire now may leave the Islamist forces still with plenty of rockets to threaten Israel in future, including long-range weapons that they have now proved can reach greater Tel Aviv, home to some three million people.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Nov-19/195546-gaza-invasion-its-been-done-before-but-this-is-different.ashx#ixzz2Ckvwf0MO
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)