Understanding Gaza: analysis

In Gaza, the Real Enemy is Iran -Yossi Klein Halevi & Michael Oren

Hamas, like Hizbullah in Lebanon, is a proxy for the real enemy Israel is confronting: Iran. Israel's current operation against Hamas represents a unique chance to deal a strategic blow to Iranian expansionism. Iran has co-opted Hamas, a Sunni organization closely linked to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, transforming the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a jihad against the Jewish state.

The Middle East conflict is no longer just about creating a Palestinian state but about preventing the region's takeover by radical Islam. Indeed, Palestinian statehood is impossible without neutralizing the extremists who oppose any negotiated solution. If Hamas is successful in manipulating world opinion into the imposition of a premature cease-fire, it will proclaim victory and continue to stockpile long-range missiles for the next round of fighting. That would mean another triumph for Iran.
(Los Angeles Times)


Hamas and the Palestinians -Khaled Abu Toameh

[T]he Palestinians who voted for Hamas were well aware of the movement's radical ideology and its desire to replace Israel with an Islamic state [and] knew exactly what they were choosing.

Indeed, in mid-December, more than 250,000 Palestinians took to the streets to celebrate Hamas' 21st anniversary. The Palestinians who are now shouting and crying because of the Israeli offensive should direct their anger first and foremost toward the "elected" government of Hamas.
(Hudson Institute)

Dvir Emmanueloff, 22, was the first Israeli casualty of the ground incursion into Gaza

The Moral Battleground -Melanie Phillips

Untold numbers of Israeli soldiers will lose their lives as the result not merely of the genocidal aims of Hamas (and its Iranian puppet-master), but also the indifference towards Palestinian terror displayed by world governments.

Such people have made no protest at the bombardment of Israeli towns by more than 6,000 rockets in the past six years, deliberately targeting innocent civilians. No, their protest only starts when Israel finally takes the military action aimed at stopping this murderous barrage.
(Spectator-UK)


Hamas Rockets Block the Birth of a Palestinian State -Malcolm Rifkind

The Arab governments, despite their protests, are indifferent to Hamas' plight. Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia loathe Hamas.

Israel will never concede a Palestinian state unless the Palestinians provide an absolute guarantee of an end to hostilities by all Palestinian parties.
(Telegraph-UK)