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WORLD BRIEFING military chief GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel carried out a blistering offensive of more than 20 airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, assassinating Hamas' mili- tary commander and target- ing the armed group's train- ing facilities and rocket launchers in Israel's most intense attack on the territo- ry in nearly four years. Israel said the airstrikes, launched in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza, were the beginning of a broader operation against the Islam- ic militants codenamed ''Pillar of Defense.'' Israeli defense officials said a ground operation was a strong possibility in the coming days though they stressed no decisions had been made and much would depend on Hamas' reaction. There were no immediate signs of extraordinary troop deployments along the bor- der. Israel kills Hamas Thursday, November 15, 2012 – Daily News 5A The attack came at a time when Israel seems to be under fire from all direc- tions. Relations have been deteriorating with Egypt's new Islamist government, Egypt's lawless Sinai desert has become a staging ground for militant attacks on Israel, and the Syrian civil war has begun to spill over Israel's northern bor- der. Earlier this week, Israel fired back at Syria — for the first time in nearly 40 years — after stray mortar fire landed in the Israeli-con- trolled Golan Heights. With at least 10 Pales- tinians dead, including two young children, Wednes- day's offensive was certain to set off a new round of heavy fighting with Gaza militants, who have built up a formidable arsenal of rockets and missiles. It also threatened to upset Israel's relations with neighboring Egypt and shake up the campaign for Israeli elections in January. In a preliminary response, Egypt recalled its ambas- sador to Israel in protest. Petraeus WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Wednesday he's withholding judg- Obama to withhold judgment on handling of Over 25 years of experience The North State's premier supplier of stoves STOVE JUNCTION 20% OFF select models Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon Don't be left in the 5A>6! Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com ment about the handling of a federal investigation that cost the CIA director his job, but he's seen no evidence ''at this point'' that national security was damaged by the widening sex scandal. ''I have a lot of confi- dence generally in the FBI,'' Obama said, offer- ing only qualified words of support for the agency. But the president added that if the FBI had given the White House an earli- er heads-up about the inquiry into possible national security viola- tions, he might now be facing questions about why he'd interfered in a criminal investigation. The inquiry that led to CIA Director David Petraeus' resignation began last summer, but the White House didn't learn about it until the day after the election. Two days later, on Friday, Petraeus resigned after acknowledging he'd had an affair with his biogra- pher, Paula Broadwell. As Obama spoke about the scandal from the White House, legislators on Capitol Hill were grilling FBI and CIA offi- cials about the same issues: whether national security was jeopardized and why they didn't know about the investigation sooner. FBI Director Robert Mueller and deputy FBI Director Sean Joyce met first with Senate Intelli- gence Committee Chair- woman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and ranking Republican Saxby Cham- bliss of Georgia, then crossed the Capitol to meet with the House Intelligence Committee. Obama stands firm on raising taxes on richest At the same time, the president stressed he was amenable to compromise on other approaches from Republicans who say they will refuse to raise tax rates. ''I believe this is solvable,'' he said during the news confer- ence. Americans WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama challenged con- gressional Republicans Wednesday to let taxes rise on the wealthiest Americans on both eco- nomic and political grounds, noting he cam- paigned successfully for re-election on the point and contending it would instantly ease the threat of the ''fiscal cliff'' plunging the nation back into recession. ''A modest tax increase on the wealthy is not going to break their backs,'' Obama said of the nation's top income earners. ''They'll still be wealthy,'' he said at his first news conference since winning a second term. Asked if it would be a deal-breaker for Repub- licans to refuse to allow the top tax rate to revert to 39.6 percent from the current 35 percent, he sidestepped. ''I just want to emphasize I am open to new ideas if the Republican counterparts or some Democrats have a great idea for us to raise revenue, maintain progressivity, make sure the middle class isn't getting hit, reduces our deficit.'' Wall Street wasn't encouraged that agree- ment was becoming more likely. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 185 points for the day. evacuation NEW YORK (AP) — Despite days of dire fore- casts and explicit warnings, hundreds of thousands of people in New York and New Jersey ignored mandatory evacuation orders as Superstorm Sandy closed in. Now, after scores of deaths and har- rowing escapes, emergency officials will look at what more can be done to per- suade residents to get out when their lives are in dan- ger. ''The issue of those who either can't or won't abide by those orders — that is a question that we have to address,'' Homeland Secu- rity Secretary Janet Napoli- tano said during a tour of ravaged Staten Island over the weekend. After Sandy, officials are wondering what it takes to get people to heed The same troubling pat- tern has been seen in previ- ous storms, and the ideas tried across the country include stern warnings about the dangers of stay- ing behind, moral appeals not to imperil rescuers, scary ads, and laws that threaten fines or jail time. And yet people refuse to leave, and some come to regret it — that is, if they survive. ''Staying there was the stupidest thing I've ever done,'' Steve Shapiro, a 55-year- old Staten Island resident who witnessed Sandy's surge lift nearby houses off their foundations. Two of his neighbors, a 13-year- old girl and her 55-year-old father, died when the rush- ing water destroyed their acknowledged house. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said officials should work to make sure residents can feel safe in shelters and confident their homes will be safeguarded in their absence. an abortion DUBLIN (AP) — The debate over legalizing abortion in Ireland flared Wednesday after the gov- ernment confirmed that a woman in the midst of a miscarriage was refused an abortion and died in an Irish hospital after suffer- ing from blood poisoning. Prime Minister Enda Irish abortion debate flares over death of critically ill woman who was denied Kenny said he was await- ing findings from three investigations into the death of Savita Halap- panavar, a 31-year-old Indian woman who was 17 weeks pregnant. Her case highlighted the legal limbo in which pregnant women facing severe health problems can find themselves in predomi- nantly Catholic Ireland. Ireland's constitution officially bans abortion, but a 1992 Supreme Court ruling found the proce- dure should be legalized for situations when the woman's life is at risk from continuing the preg- nancy. Five governments since have refused to pass a law resolving the confu- sion, leaving Irish hospi- tals reluctant to terminate pregnancies except in the most obviously life- threatening circum- stances. JUST MOVE IT Part of a national campaign to promote physical activity for American Indians and Alaskan Natives FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH 11:30 AM Registration and Start Psycho Fitness & MMA 1450 Schwab St., Red Bluff Happy 22nd Anniversary to the most beautiful and sexy gal in the world. I love, respect and cherish you more than ever. Your Husband Roger Love non-competive walks and runs. Open to families, individuals of all ages and people of all cultures. 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