¡¡JERUSALEM, July 18 (Xinhuanet, by Ming Dajun) -- A good number of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles along with thousands of infantry troops have massed on the border and Israel Defense Forces sources said an extensive and comprehensive ground offensive into Gaza was ready and they were waiting for orders from the political echelon.

    Tensions have reached its highest point in the region ever since Mahmoud Abbas was elected Palestinian National Authority (PNA) chairman in January.

    The Islamic resistance movement Hamas is launching Qassam rocketattacks on Israel while Israel has resumed its targeted liquidation against Hamas and other Palestinian militant leaders and threatens further actions into the Palestinian territories.

    The bloodshed has almost shattered the truce reached between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in February. Analysts worried that any incident might drag the tentative calm, which has last only about half a year, into a total collapse.

    Israel has issued stern warnings to Abbas to order his security forces to do everything they can to halt Hamas mortar shelling, otherwise Israel would launch a major ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

    Abbas, now in Gaza, is trying his best to persuade Hamas and other militant groups that the truce with Israel meets "higher national interest" of the Palestinians, urging them to abide by it.     

    However, Hamas has neglected his warnings and continued mortar attacks against Israel.

    PNA security forces and Hamas militants exchanged fire against each other, killing two teenagers and injuring 30 early Friday.

    This bloody conflict has sent a dangerous signal because it overstepped the "red line" of "Palestinians not shooting Palestinians" which is cherished by the Palestinians for many years.

    Some said if the conflict were not restrained it might lead to the eruption of an internal war within the Palestinians and the collapse of the Abbas government.

    This round of tension began with a suicide bombing in the coastal Israeli city of Netanya, carried out by the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) last Tuesday, in which five Israelis were killed and 90 wounded.

    Following the suicide bombing, Hamas also started firing rocketsand mortar shells from Gaza toward Israeli communities.

    Apparently Hamas' main target was to boost its influence ahead of the coming Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

    Under the so-called "disengagement" plan, Israel will start to evacuate all its settlements in Gaza in mid-August.

    After the withdrawal, Israel is scheduled to transfer the settlements to the PNA, which will enhance the PNA's position in Gaza but weakens Hamas' control in the desert coastal strip.

    By attacking Israel, Hamas and Jihad are challenging Abbas' authority.

    A source from Israeli Prime Minister office said, "This is unquestionably Abbas' most difficult hour."

    Analysts believe that whether Israel can have a coordinated disengagement from the Palestinian area and the fate of the disengagement will be determined by Abbas' dealing with the challenges from inside.

    US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said over the weekend that she had decided to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories to save the truce from a complete collapse, give disengagement a push and show support for Abbas.

    Since the beginning of this year, Israel and the Palestinians have enjoyed a period of tentative calm, but this calm was very fragile.

    Except for a truce, the two sides have not reached any agreementto solve their fundamental disputes and the Israeli side still closed its door for peace talks.

    Quietness is essential for peace talks. However, only a profoundpeace treaty will provide the basis for a lasting peace. Enditem