I am pleased to see Haaretz Publishing this strong condemnation of weak IDF policies. With the promotion of the Iron Dome, the IDF is moving from offense to defense. A very big mistake. Ayalon: There’s no other solution than to topple Hamas. Ted Belman
In the middle of a counter-attack against Hamas’ men and infrastructure, Israel has blinked, and agreed to a ceasefire. The government, which is full of ministers with military backgrounds, ignored one of the most basic rules of managing a battle: Take advantage of success (if it had not been a success, Hamas would not have begged for a truce ) until the fight is won.
Even though residents in the south would have had to suffer enemy missiles for some time, they also have trouble grasping the government’s strange logic. The enemy will now recover, just as it did after Operation Cast Lead, another military operation which drew to a halt before its completion; Hamas will arm itself for another, even more lethal, round of fighting. Who knows how many yellow school buses will be attacked as a result of the decision-makers’ weak will?
The argument that the ceasefire was designed to allow residents and vacationers to enjoy the Passover holiday in peace reflects the government’s superficial and short-sighted outlook, not only regarding security affairs. Most citizens display the fortitude required to take steps that would hurt the enemy and force it to stop its attacks for a prolonged period. But the government has once again sent a signal to Hamas – and to any other violent, antagonistic group – that it lacks the willingness, or the capability, to take risks that can lead to victory.
The IDF has also become wedded to this weakness, not only regarding Hamas. The army should not function merely as a police force or judicial system, content to cah terrorists. The IDF’s role is to preempt attacks against the state’s civilians. Palestinians began launching suicide attacks at the beginning of the year 2000. The people’s army took steps to protect itself (even though it is supposed, first and foremost, to defend civilians, and then worry about defending its own soldiers ). In a period in which dozens of Israelis were murdered the army was satisfied with small-scale anti-terror measures.
Finally, after the terror attack at a Netanya hotel on Passover eve in 2002, the government sensed that the public was about to rise up in fury, and the IDF embarked on Operation Defensive Shield. This military campaign significantly reduced the number of terror attacks, prompting the question: Why wasn’t such an operation launched a year earlier?
Similarly, Operation Cast Lead was launched only after residents of the south endured thousands of missile attacks over many months. It wasn’t initiated when the missile attacks started – something that could have prevented much of the misery and suffering.
This operation, like the Second Lebanon War, was halted before it could be completed, largely at the IDF’s request. Since the terror infrastructures were not eradicated, and since Hamas’ leadership was not put out of operation, Israel’s south continued to endure hell after Cast Lead. The smuggling of missiles into Gaza continued (who is to blame for that? ). Some of these missiles can reach Tel Aviv.
The Iron Dome system can intercept some of them. But this use of Iron Dome is the start of a process in which Israel runs away from the fight without attaining victory. And it gives a terror organization an opportunity to assault our defense budget by firing cheap rockets (which it has in abundance ) and forcing Israel to use extremely expensive anti-missile missiles to intercept them.
Ahead of the Passover holiday, Hamas received, in addition to the ceasefire, an unexpected gain. A number of Israel’s “former” security officials joined forces in calling on the government to surrender to Hamas’ demands and release about 1,000 terrorists, in exchange for Gilad Shalit. The wisdom of this demand and its perfect timing shows just how we got ourselves to this low point: There is now an inability to bring an end to terror activity of organizations which kill Israeli citizens, fire thousands of missiles, kidnap civilians and soldiers, and dictate terms of surrender for the release of these hostages. These “former” security officials headed unsuccessful struggles against Hamas, Hezbollah and other, similar groups. What gives them the moral right to demand such a capitulation? Now we are slaves -, to borrow a phrase from the Haggadah – to cowardice, to erroneous conceptions and delusions. Next year, let us be free, and accomplish the worthy goals of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel.
“a natural perspective that is and is not.” Shakespeare: Twelfth Night: Act 5, Scene 1, Page 10
“Esau is unstable” Comment by Ishmael on Esau’s plot for them to kill Isaac and Jacob as elaborated by R David Adani in Midrash HaGadol. His point has been proven for ninety years by the Western powers inflammation and use of Islamic jihad against the Jews and against their own nations as the suicidal aspect of poiesis fulfills itself. “And he took Machalat the daughter of Yishmael…” When Esav the wicked saw that Yitzhak blessed Ya’akov, he sought to kill Ya’akov, as is said “And Esav said in his heart…” [“May the days of mourning for my father {i.e. His death} draw near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Toldot (Genesis 27:41).
”What did he do? He went to Yishmael and said to him, “Let us join together, I and you, and we will rule the whole world.”
He said to him “Why and how?” Esav said to him…”a brother can kill his brother because of the inheritance, that we found with Kayin, who killed Hevel his brother and thus it is permissible for you to kill your brother Yitzhak, who deprived you of all your wealth and of all that you had, and I also will kill my brother, and afterwards we will inherit the entire world, and the two of us will rule all that belonged to Avraham our father.” [A remarkable prevision of Modern-postmodern great power geopolitics]
Yishmael said to him, “I can’t believe your words, because you are not stable.” Esav said to him, “If I will take your daughter, will you believe me?”
Then, immediately, “And he took Machalat, the daughter of Yishmael for a wife …” [“in addition to his {Canaanite wives} as a wife for himself”]. Toldot (Genesis 28:6-9). Esau’s use of Cain’s murder as a legalizing precedent is as mad as is the subsequent credulity of Ishmael who accepts sexual possession as a test of validity
I agree!
So what’s your excuse for remaining in America?
This is not about Israel’s timing…or lack of will..not about America or about America’s horrible
fool .marxsist anti semetic president . This is about God. Everything about Israel is about God.
“The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed.He who sits in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His Fury” Psalm 2:2, 4-5
“He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble. A band of destroying angels” Psalm 78:49
“May all who hate Zion be put to shame and be turned backward. Let them be like grass upon housetops which withers before it grows up ” Psalm 129:5-6
“O Israel, hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is loving kindness and with Him is abundant redemption. He will redeem Israel from all iniquities Psalm 130:7-8
To clarify mine (#6):
If Israel fails to strike while the iron is hot,
she may well find that
when she is ready to strike,
the iron is not.
None of us can see around corners, in space
OR in time.
To clarify my point #3: Hamas continues to exist because Israel wants it to.
“We at the height are ready to decline.
“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”
[Julius Caesar, IV.ii.269–276]
Please. If Israel wanted to rid Gaza of Hamas, she could do so in 96 hours.
Hamas is the only thing standing in the way of a Palestinian state.
The decision makers fear world opinion. Therefore they will not take the military measures to defeat Hamas. Of course it is obvious that Hamas wants a ceasefire because they are losing men. Now is the time to go in for the kill. But again, Israel is paralyzed by fear of world condemnAtion.
Just because Haaretz occasionally publishes an article which implies they care about Israel doesn’t excuse their traitorous behavior.