Israel Raises the Stakes

In poker terms, Israel has gone "all in" on the negotiations for the release of their captured soldier:

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.

This thing is looking more and more like the next Arab-Israeli war.

UPDATE: Israeli helicopters fire rocket attack at Palestinian Prime Minister's office.