Gaza

It is necessary for Israel’s political and military leaders to readjust their conceptual framework concerning deterrence, and to engage the public in an open and effective dialogue on the deterrence equations. Also needed is a more specific and accurate capacity to strike fear into Hamas leadership by signaling both willingness and ability to destroy the assets that they value most.

Israel’s security requirements on other fronts, require containment of the conflict on the southern front, while continuing to build the western Negev notwithstanding Hamas’ arson attempts.

How Hamas Brought Israel to the Brink of Election Chaos.
Dr. Eran Lerman: Lieberman was isolated by the rest of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, which supported the ceasefire.

Is the situation with Gaza ‘the problem from hell?’
Prof. Efraim Inbar: We cannot trust Hamas to keep the calm. Only when Hamas is afraid of IDF retaliation, which has yet to come, will calm prevail. General Amidror: A war in Gaza will only benefit PA leader Mahmoud Abbas and Iran. And we don’t want to give Iran any gifts.

The challenge now is how to make it clear to the Hamas leadership that it should not believe is own supercilious words.

Only a crushing and devastating blow to Hamas will pave the way for a truce that would not be a victory for the terrorists.

Israel's actions (or at times, inaction) concerning the future of the Gaza Strip cannot be isolated from the broader context of the struggle over the entire region's balance of power. Gaza’s dependence on Egypt, and perhaps Cyprus, constitutes a common interest of the “camp of stability” in the Middle East, to curb the influence of both Turkey and Iran, and to deny Abu Mazen the baneful position of a spoiler.

Reducing enemy capabilities and ambitions in Gaza requires Israeli military readiness and government willingness to use force intermittingly, while maintaining a healthy and resilient Israeli home front.

Iran and the smaller terrorist groups in Gaza want a full-scale war with Israel. Hamas does not. Israel should land a decisive, well-defined blow but back Egyptian efforts to broker a cease-fire.

The INSS unilateral disengagement plan is neither new nor logical.