If you’re keeping up with the news, you know by now that this probably won’t be a short operation. Of course, a lot depends on factors outside of Israel’s control. For example, here’s a scenario for bringing a quick ending to the bloodshed:
Hamas stops launching rockets on Israel. Effective immidiately, all launches on Israeli civilians are halted. They don’t negotiate this with Israel – just one-sidedly stop attacking civilians and shout off the roof tops about their new policy (or, more importantly, into the microphones of foreign reporters). Wham, the rug gets pulled under the Israeli move and international pressure makes Israel halt the attacks.
To clarify, Israeli decision makers will not be happy with this outcome. At this point, there is very little faith in any promises made by Hamas, and I believe our government’s current operations are intended at delivering a very very painful blow to the Hamas – worse than what’s been going on so far. Judging by what Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense, was saying in the press conference yesterday, the IDF needs about a week, possibly more, in order to complete whatever it is the policy makers have in mind.
Should Hamas declare and perform an immidiate cease of hostilities, they will probably be able to force Israel into a ceasefire (brought about by international pressure).
Of course, not much of a chance of that happening. Hamas is as determined as ever to shoot themeselves in the foot, and bring more misery to the Palestinian people. They keep shooting, and they will keep on shooting, in the name of what? who knows. Defending their honor or something, I think?
I mean, surely they realize their puny little rockets will not win any war? the only thing they achieve with the qassams is antoginzing more and more Israeli citizens and ultimately forcing our politicians to use more force against them. And when it comes to a brute force showdown…. well, qassam makeshift rockets and mortar shells vs. F-16′s?
I guess it all boils down to what the leaders of Hamas want. Had they opted for a peaceful co-existence with Israel, they could have had that long long time ago.
And don’t you think it’s just Israelis thinking that. This time around, Hamas have been reprimanded not only by Arab countries, but by the Palestinian prime minister in the West Bank. The Egyptians are pretty amazing in their response, actually. Their Minister of Foreign Affairs openly accused Hamas of bringing this on themselves and Egypt refused all of Hamas’ requests to open the border between Gaza and Egypt.
To sum it up, I think it was Olmert who said it yesterday? This isn’t a fight between Israel and the Palestinians. This one is between Israel and the Hamas leadership. The sooner the people in Gaza somehow throw off that sick regime, the better for them and for the entire region.
on Dec 29th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
War again and a neverending story that no one deserves. Just read a blog of a palestinian mother and find myself thinking about the similarities of beeing a mother all over the world. The same thoughts, same worries, same photos of loving children, same feelings in deep of the heart. Hope the war will end soon, war is the most stupid way of doing things. If we MOTHERS could do anything to PROTECT ous children in a reasonable way the world should be better. Don´t you think?