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Commentary;
This blog asked a few days ago if the Israeli government will squander the IDF’s Gaza War achievements. Events on the diplomatic front continued to show strong indications that Israel’s Troika of Olmert, Livni and Barak are close to doing just that, wasting the degradation of Hamas’ capabilities, the lives of the 9 fatalities and more on a ceasefire based on international forces in Gaza — a rerun of Lebanon.
So concerned are IDF’s defense establishment officials that Ynet’s Hanan Greenberg reports that they have warned;
That the IDF has not yet completed its mission in the Gaza Strip. “Continued military pressure on Hamas could significantly improve the end result of the entire operation,” a high-ranking officer told Ynet Thursday.
The officers are concerned that the political echelon might decide to declare a ceasefire in Gaza before all the objectives of the operation have been obtained.
Despite the hard blows it has sustained until now, Hamas continues to fight, and therefore the officers see no reason to halt the military offensive yet.
“At this stage of the operation the IDF has made nice gains, but Hamas has not been crushed yet. The decision-makers will have to take this into consideration,” the officer explained.
The IDF commanders urged the political leadership not to lose the momentum vis-a`-vis Hamas: “This operation must be concluded with a sense of strong deterrence against them,” one official stated.
“The harder we hit Hamas now – the longer and more genuine the truce will be,” he concluded.
The US now appears to be an active participant. The US has indicated qualified support for the French-Egyptian ceasefire proposal, although the Americans are still seeking additional clarity as to what the proposal entails. Meanwhile, Hamas continues vowing not to surrender in Gaza and rejects the French-Egyptian plan.
The lack of self-pride and national pride amongst Israel’s political and diplomatic echelons boggles the mind. MB
Katyushas Return to the North [2 More Strike town of Shlomi Later in AM], IDF Retaliates, by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu and Hana Levi Julian (Israel National News)
Lebanese Rocket Attack on Israel Threatens to Open 2nd Front, by Allyn Fisher-Ilan (Reuters)
Rockets Fired at the North: Several Lightly Wounded as Rocket Hits [Nahariya] Retirement Home, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Mortar Attack Wounds 5 in Eshkol Region, by Hana Levi Julian (Israel National News)
Gaza Terrorists Continue to Aim Rockets at Southern Israel [Sha’ar Hanegev Region, Be’er Sheva], by Yehudah Lev Kay and Hana Levi Julian (Israel National News)
Temporary Ceasefire for Humanitarian Reasons [Day 2 — 1PM – 4 PM]
Four Injured in Mortar Attack [in Eshkol Region, Apparently During Humanitarian Ceasefire]
Rocket Explodes in Sha’ar HaNegev, No Injuries [During Humanitarian Ceasefire]
Rocket Explodes in Ashkelon, Three Injured [During Humanitarian Ceasefire]a>
IDF Officer Killed in Battle [at Former Jewish Town of Netzarim], by Hana Levi Julian (Israel National News)
IAF Pounds 60 Gaza Targets [Including Rafah Tunnels Network], by Hillel Fendel (Israel National News)
IDF Steps Up Anti-Tunnel Operations, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Rockets Fall Near Beersheba, Ashkelon [Netivot, Ofakim]
Rockets [on Beersheva] Close Schools Again
MK [Silvan Shalom]: Only 8-10 Killed in [UN] School
US Supports Egyptian-French Proposal [Seeking Additional Clarifications on Plan], by Hilary Leila Krieger (Jerusalem Post)
Hamas Vows Not to Surrender in Gaza
Analysis: ‘New Security Reality’ Still Not Assured, by Yaakov Katz (Jrusalem Post)