Cut Gaza's Electric Power? -Daniel Pipes[S]ix years ago, I called for shutting off utilities to the Palestinian Authority as well as a host of other measures, such as permitting no transportation in the PA of people or goods beyond basic necessities, implementing the death penalty against murderers, and razing villages from which attacks are launched.
Then and now, such responses have two benefits: First, they send a strong deterrent signal "Hit us and we will hit you back much harder" thereby reducing the number of attacks in the short term. Second, they impress Palestinians with the Israeli will to survive, and so bring closer their eventual acceptance of the Jewish state.
As for the inevitable objection that tough measures will generate ill-will toward Israel, the reply is easy: back when the IDF did deploy deterrent tactics, the country enjoyed a much higher standing internationally. Since 1993, its weakness has earned it not just scorn but also heightened hostility.
Then and now, such responses have two benefits: First, they send a strong deterrent signal "Hit us and we will hit you back much harder" thereby reducing the number of attacks in the short term. Second, they impress Palestinians with the Israeli will to survive, and so bring closer their eventual acceptance of the Jewish state.
As for the inevitable objection that tough measures will generate ill-will toward Israel, the reply is easy: back when the IDF did deploy deterrent tactics, the country enjoyed a much higher standing internationally. Since 1993, its weakness has earned it not just scorn but also heightened hostility.
[Jerusalem Post]
The Imperatives of War -Caroline Glick
The Palestinians have good reasons to continue their attacks.
[A]ttacks guarantee continued Iranian, Syrian, Egyptian and Saudi military and financial support...
By maintaining their offensive they daily portray the government and the IDF as impotent. Israeli society, in turn, is demoralized and its demoralization prolongs the paralysis of the IDF and the government.
The IDF must take the western Negev out of rocket range by conquering northern Gaza. It must cut off the Palestinians' supply lines by retaking control over Gaza's border with Egypt. And the IDF must establish a two-kilometer-wide security zone within Gaza along its border with Israel to prevent terrorist infiltrations.
[Jerusalem Post]
The Imperatives of War -Caroline Glick
The Palestinians have good reasons to continue their attacks.
[A]ttacks guarantee continued Iranian, Syrian, Egyptian and Saudi military and financial support...
By maintaining their offensive they daily portray the government and the IDF as impotent. Israeli society, in turn, is demoralized and its demoralization prolongs the paralysis of the IDF and the government.
The IDF must take the western Negev out of rocket range by conquering northern Gaza. It must cut off the Palestinians' supply lines by retaking control over Gaza's border with Egypt. And the IDF must establish a two-kilometer-wide security zone within Gaza along its border with Israel to prevent terrorist infiltrations.
[Jerusalem Post]
3 comments:
I think Pipes' opinion of "higher standing internationally" would be debated by many, including many Israeli citizens. There is no doubt more needs to be done, but perhaps what holds the Israelis back this time is the disaster American aggression has proven to be as well as their own difficulties in Lebanon. Maybe they fail to act because things are not so clear and easy as Pipes and Glick believe. Arm Chair warriors like them rarely find themselves at risk from any armed combat they advocate for others.
True, but they both understand the dynamics of the region quite well. While I don't feature a lot of military analysis, there is a general agreement across the spectrum that toughness will emerge in the coming months...witness this odd move in Syria, which may be a strong Israeli message...I have not posted on it yet, but the real story has yet to emerge...
I definately agree there is more to this Syrian affair, and I also, whether good or bad I do not know, believe more forceful responses are coming.
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