Source explains why IDF does not raise response level to incendiary kite warfare and flare-ups from Gaza.
A security source referred to the weekend incidents around the security fence adjacent to the Gaza perimeter communities.
“The reason for the army’s non-response lies in two areas,” he says. “The first area is negotiations that have been accelerated in recent days on the issue of Gaza as a whole and the prisoners in particular, and the second is the north.
“The army sees the northern sector as the main fighting task, with intensification of forces in the north and growing Iranian presence despite the developing agreements with the rebel organizations.”
The source adds that in the four years since Operation Protective Edge deterrence has not weakened, and Israel currently prefers to maintain a quiet border at the request of everyone to try to create an environment that will restore the situation to its previous status, including returning POWs and MIAs.
In this context, the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported last week that indirect negotiations over a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Germany, have been taking place.
“Under the surface,” says the source, “operations are being carried out both politically and operationally, and one shouldn’t think deterrence has weakened in light of the fact that we’re not reacting.”
@ Edgar G.:
@ Sebastien Zorn:
The war need not be protracted, and israel can easily distinguish who is who. Thry are right next door and I’m sure they know everything going on there. A top class listening post set up outside the perimeter could hear a mouse squeak in Gaza City. Nevr mind the othe info they get on a daily basis.
Oh yes they could do it like in WW2 but Israel is not that way inclined, and the internatipal public would condemn it greatly. Also would Israel Jews. look how they were able to select the terrorists at the beginning and knocked them almost all off. And how they spotted the terrorist amongst the many thousands of Syrian refugees crowding up at the Golan, and Hezbollah amongst the Syrian soldiers when they began attacking in that area.. Israel has tentacles out all over the area. Much more highly developed on this line, that ever before.
Edgar G. Said:
aye, there’s the rub. The allies didn’t win WW2 by being overly concerned with such niceties and I’m not even sure if it is possible to win a protracted war. But assuming it can be done, even without arms, If Iran will pay for it, Hamas could just throw waves of “noncombatants” at the IDF which would then have to commit troops to control them. We saw the high levels of civilian casualties that Obama produced using killer drones, he even hit a wedding party in Pakistan. There is no substitute for human judgement on the ground and the only way to minimize civilian casualties is highly labor intensive. This is the sort of quagmire/trap, that Iran is trying to tempt/provoke Israel into falling into in Gaza.
@ Bear Klein:
You’re talking as if the IDF and the IAFare monolithic bodies that all have to move to the same place at the same time. There can be a big flare-up at the Golan, and Israel could still spare a couple of planes and artillery pieces to take down Gaza. As for the IDF I estimate that not more than 2 divisions would be needed at Golan. Nor more than say, a fifth of the air power. As for the IAF there’s no space there for more, and linind up rearward, would just be providing targets for any wandering Iranian plane that might get through the tightly held air cordon that would be there. And Israel has very short supply lines and their logistical powers are because of that alone, first class. Any munitions Iran piles into Syria are sitting ducks. ready to go ..BOOM…!!
@ Sebastien Zorn:
If they are flattened with no quarter nor mercy except for proven non-combatants, they’ll grovel (and hug the gravel) quickly enough. Israel has always ceased when some foreign country says ”Enough”. Israel crawls to the Goyim, it’s time that the goyim, in this case, Gazans, crawled to Israel. I think you know what I mean, not exactly literally.
As for Hamas being an arm of Iran, that’s O/K The body that the arm is attached to is getting a bit of a pounding at the moment in southern Syria. Israel dealing with Gaza is an internal situation, and will not allow outside militarism to enter. That is…If and when Israel decides to take Gaza seriously
@ Edgar G.:
That is your assumption. Other calculations have they start firing rockets all over and Israel has to spend a lot of time and effort in stopping that while a real danger is up north, where you if I understood you correctly believe their is no real significant danger. Which is grossly inaccurate.
There is a possibility the south will now get quiet without an Israeli attack, due to some unreported on-goings. We will see ,if that pans out. In the long Hamas needs to be destroyed. Timing might not be now.
It cut off my edit so, here it is again in full: Edgar G. Said:
In the past that was true, and that’s what Israel has done but now that Hamas in Gaza is just a division in the Iranian army same as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, I wouldn’t be so sure. Everybody is playing poker and calculating the odds here. If they strike, they won’t give notice. This may be the calm before the storm, something like the “phony war” of 1939.
@ Bear Klein:
In almost the time whilst we’re exchanging posts, Israel could destroy Gaza’s will to send any more of the fire kites that are destroying the crops, land and hard work of our farmers. If and when, which is doubtful, Iran and Syria move tio attack Israel on the Golan there will be ample time , and Israel has all possible contingency plans in place especially for the Hezbollah slew of rockets. It takes about 5-7 minutes to get by plane from Gaza to Golan….guessing but close.
They will never learn if we don’t take the decisive action we should have taken every time it was needed since the so-called disengagement. Sure, it is difficult and lives may be lost, but there are so many “good-willed” countries out there who would step up to the plate to “discuss” some kind of agreement no-one will ever keep. Finish the job now. As the saying goes, “a stitch in time saves nine.”
@ Edgar G.:
The northern front is if all out war breaks out, will require the IDF to assemble a massive amount of infantry, artillery plus tanks to take over a lot of Lebanon and some of Syria to stop the 150,000 missiles they have pointed at Israel. To limit damage to the Home front plus the IDF bases. They also will be flying wave after wave of fighter jets. The objective will be to finish this quickly, so as to limit the damage to Israel which will be real!
Yes the situation in the South with Gaza needs a harsh response militarily. After Hezis/Syrians/Iranians are reduced to rubble Israel in my view (which is not popular among current decision makers) needs to destroy Hamas and put the IDF in charge in Gaza. Trouble is to do that completely would take months and tie up a lot of soldiers including reservists.
Israel just struck in Syria again. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/syria-airstrike-hits-t4-airbase-near-homs-1.6248915
A term I’ve never dreamt of ever using until now, springs to my mind…”Half-Assed”. A crude description of a situation which deserves one much stronger, but I can’t think of one. The most important mention is the assurance that we mustn’t think that our resolve for deterrence has weakened. I’m glad it was mentioned so prominently because that’s just what it looks like. Or cadets playing at a war game, emphasis on Game.
So we can’t take a day, to use perhaps 2-3 planes, sitting idle right now far from the Golan, and a few artillery pieces likely being polished, to teach the Gaza flame bombers that those who play with fire can get burned…,because we’re watching the Gaza Border.
Am I dreaming, or did we on more than one occasion fight on 2 or3 fronts simultaneously, holding on one of two and blitzing on the third. And at a time when we were at about half the power we are today…? I MUST be dreaming.
Yes, Golan has to be carefully watched, but Israel certainly has the matter there WELL under control. So it all comes down to the late soldiers’ bodies which have not yet been returned and are a matter of discussion right now. So we are supposed to sit down and relax because of this rumoured discussion, by a foreign country on our behalf, whilst the whole country is being gratuitously devastated in flames around us.
I strongly object to this weak-kneed and outrageous, cowardly, retreat from responsibility. 2 live (presumably) prisoners Gaza also holds, but I never see any more the report that these two walked right there of their own will and were not captured.. One is an Arab, and might be sitting down at the moment working out with his captors what share of any ransom he’ll get.