War, Détente or Deal: What’s Israel’s Next Move with Gaza?
The residents of Israel’s southern towns were hit hard during Israel and Hamas’ escalation of hostilities on Wednesday night. While a ceasefire currently holds, many are demanding a more comprehensive solution. Does this mean a broader deal? Or does it mean war? More at Business Insider.
There is still a range of choices in the spectrum between restraint and war… In the coming hours and days, a race will be on between the military and diplomatic timetables. If Egypt and the United Nations can’t achieve a binding “small agreement” – a full cease-fire in exchange for concessions on the movement of goods into the Strip along with enlarging Gaza’s fishing zone and perhaps the beginning of economic concessions – Israel will take further military action to force an agreement on Hamas.
In the meantime, Israel has to convey a message of strength while promising that if calm is achieved, it is ready to help in solving Gaza’s real problems… [People in southern Israel] deserve, as do the people of Gaza, to live in peace. We hope cooler heads will prevail and the current violence is precursor for the cease-fire plan being worked out. But if not, we count on the IDF to do what it takes to bring quiet to the South.
In the last war, taking down two high rises in Gaza was the last straw that led to a ceasefire. It was a message: From now on, if the war doesn’t stop, all hell will break loose. Today, taking down a building was meant to prevent a war that hasn’t yet started, but could start very soon. Israel does not want this war, but cannot tolerate for much longer the drip drop of fire from Gaza. Thus, it is now in Hamas’ hands.