February 12, 2008
Calls Intensify For Gaza Invasion
Angry Israelis are pressing for retaliation against Palestinian militants in Gaza, even as the repercussions of the humiliating 2006 war with Hezbollah are still being felt.
Dozens of residents from Sderot, an Israeli town that sees a near-daily barrage of rocket attacks from Gaza, traveled to Jerusalem over the weekend to protest perceived government inaction. Israeli Cabinet members, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, have joined the cries for harsher tactics against Gaza militants, particularly after two brothers, ages 8 and 19, were seriously injured while fleeing rocket fire with their family.
Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit advised the military to give one Gaza neighborhood a day to empty out, and then to destroy it, BBC News reports. The Israeli army has yet to make a significant military incursion into Gaza, despite its nearly complete isolation from the friendlier regime in the West Bank and the world community.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in Berlin for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, promised decisive action against the militants.
"The Israeli government under my leadership is absolutely determined to respond to the challenge of terrorism from Gaza in every possible manner which will be effective. We will not hesitate, we will not stop, we will do what's necessary to be done," he said.
Olmert strongly hinted that the government was in the planning stages of a response, but said he would not "share" details with the public, the Jerusalem Post reports. He also seemed to suggest that an invasion would have the political backing of Germany.
Olmert is under intense pressure to deliver a strong response to the Hamas regime in Gaza, which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, thereby pushing negotiations off the table. A majority of Israelis said they wanted Olmert to resign, following an independent report showing "serious failures and shortcomings" by Israeli's government and military during the failed 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
But a military invasion of Gaza would be incredibly difficult to pull off for a host of reasons. According to the Jerusalem Post, a wintertime invasion would mean low visibility for aircraft. It would also "most likely entail the call-up of thousands of reservists" to reoccupy and seal the border. Meanwhile, rocket fire would only intensify.
Leaders of Hamas, anticipating a full-scale response, have reportedly gone underground. A spokesman warned, "Our response to the assassination of leaders of the organization will be unprecedented. Any means will be considered legitimate."
In order to successfully pull off a scrub operation in Gaza, Israel would likely have to enlist the cooperation of neighboring Egypt, especially if it wants to stem the flow of arms. Though Egypt is an ally, it seems unlikely it will want to side so visibly with Israel in a fight against Palestinians.
Not surprisingly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' inability to rein in Hamas is imperiling a promised peace deal this year.
Posted at 11:01 AM
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Fatah, Hamas, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Palestinians
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