What Israel Could Learn from the Gaza Kidnap Drama

[Scurrilous]

The military standoff has shown why the current policy of unilateral withdrawal is wishful thinking

<snip>

"The Gaza kidnapping drama highlights a problem facing Israel's prime minister Ehud Olmert reminiscent of the famous complaint of fictional Godfather Michael Corleone: "Just when I thought that I was out, they pull me back in."

In fact, it took less than a year for Olmert to send the Israeli military back in to Gaza after withdrawing from the territory last August. They're not planning to stay, of course — the army is there in response to the kidnapping of a 19-year-old corporal, and also to put a stop to rocket fire from northern Gaza into Israeli territory. But Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon started with similarly limited goals, and events conspired to keep the Israelis there for 18 years. Even if they do retreat again from Gaza in a matter of days or weeks, the current dynamic in the Palestinian territories suggests they'll inevitably be back.

The kidnap drama has simply highlighted a fundamental flaw in the policy of unilateral withdrawal on which Olmert based his election campaign. Absent any agreement with a Palestinian government that is willing and able to enforce order, militants will continue to attack Israel. The idea that Israel can "disengage" from the Palestinians without their cooperation is wishful thinking.

Israel has already made clear that if Corporal Gilad Shalit is killed, it will exact a terrible revenge on the Palestinian political leadership. It may even target Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, who has reportedly reached agreement with President Mahmoud Abbas to seek some form of a two-state solution, in response to international demands that Hamas recognize Israel. But it isn't Haniyeh and the Hamas leaders in government that are behind the kidnapping; Israel believes the perpetrators are hard-liners taking orders from exiled Hamas leaders in Syria, who oppose the reported shift towards moderation and compromise by Haniyeh and others in government. Whether or not leaders of the Palestinian government are assassinated, the likelihood is that Israeli actions to punish Palestinians for the kidnapping are likely to be met by further escalation from the Palestinian militants. And the playing out of that familiar vicious cycle will likely keep Israeli forces active in Gaza for a long time to come."

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1208952,00.html

[Redstone]

1. 700 rockets. SEVEN HUNDRED FUCKING ROCKETS!

You'd think the Palestinians would have a bit of fucking BRAINS, and once the Israelis were out of Gaza, stop shooting fucking rockets into Israel!

But no...

Redstone

[Poll_Blind]

2. Does a brush that broad even fit into the paint can?

PB

[Redstone]

4. Well, for Christ's sake. They got rid of the Israelis, why be so stupid as

to provoke them? It's just STUPID.

Redstone

[manic expression]

9. Rid of them?

Right, because Israel's control of the borders, shores, trade, air and more in Gaza is really "rid" of them.....:eyes:

Oh, and a dead family on a beach at a picnic is definitely "rid" of them.....:puke:

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. Yes, Palestinians Should Have Licked Their Boots

for stopping something that they shouldn't have done in the first place. And they could also ask for the Israelis to kindly stop the collective punishment and bombings too.

[Redstone]

5. Not shooting rockets at them is hardly "licking their boots."

This shit works both ways; you want someone to leave you alone, it's a pretty good idea to leave them alone.

Fairly simple concept, yes?

Redstone

[wellst0nev0ter]

8. The Withdrawals Didn't End The Aerial Bombings

And the occupation that took place in the first place is what you hardly call leaving someone alone.

[DELUSIONAL]

6. Seems like elements within Israel were trying to heat the conflict

up -- because they didn't want to withdraw from Gaza in the first place.

Neither side is blameless -- killing of civilians continues as the Israelis also fire upon Gaza upon a whim.

Seems like elements within the Israeli Government keep hitting the hornets nest.

Why is is that the crazies are in leadership positions -- in both the US and Israel -- ah hell add the UK to the list.

[Scorpio2000]

7. Crazies in the PA and Hamas

"killing of civilians continues as the Israelis also fire upon Gaza upon a whim"

Hardly a "whim", and nobody's been killed yet.