A blessed year 2009 was for Israel. Not a single suicide bombing struck the nation. It is at peace. And this peace may be an illusion.
The war against Hamas in Gaza a year ago (Cast Lead) broke Hamas will to keep firing rockets at civilian centers in Israel for now. But just as the Palestinians made no effort to build a peaceful society in Gaza after Israel unilaterally withdrew from there in 2005, the Hamas leadership has made no effort to promote peace since the end of Cast Lead in January, 2009.
Quite the contrary. The effort in Gaza, by Hamas, has been to obtain advanced, mostly Russian-made anti-tank missiles and shoulder-to-air missiles, as well as an anti-ship missile, reports the Jerusalem Post. Further, the Israel Defense Forces believe that Hamas has obtained long-range rockets, mostly from Iran. One of these rockets was recently tested and has a range of more than 60 kilometers, which means it could hit Tel Aviv.
One may wonder at the self-destructive delusions under which Hamas works. Did not Hamas see that its previous acquisition, manufacture and firing of rockets into Sderot and other civilian centers in southern Israel ended extremely badly for Hamas and Gaza? Did not Hamas see that it suffered a devastating attack, the loss of hundreds of its men, the deaths of some 1,000 Palestinians, the disruption of its entire society, the loss of much property?
No, Hamas did not see because it does not want to. It wants only Israels destruction. That comes above all else, including the welfare of its own people and even of itself. Hamas apparently does not see that its current rearmament only invites Israel to consider, once again, a military attack if anything, even more focused and more severe than the last one.
Specifically, last Sunday, an Israeli Major General, Yom Tov Samia, hinted at the possibility that the IDF will conquer the Philadelphi Corridor. That is the strip of land between Gaza and Egypt. That is the strip of land that Israel unilaterally withdrew from in 2005. That is the strip of land that, when under Israeli control, allowed no arms smuggling to Hamas and no Palestinian ability to make war from Gaza. That is the strip of land that, under Hamas control, has been riddled with tunnels used for smuggling arms to make war on Israel. That is the strip of land which, when Israel withdrew for the sake of peace, brought war. That is the strip of land that symbolizes the strategic stupidity of unilateral Israeli withdrawal.
And that is the strip of land that Israel is now contemplating retaking. It would be difficult. It would yield Israel casualties. It would necessitate house-to-house searches for tunnels. It might also require permanent Israeli reoccupation. O we can hear the shouts and righteous indignation now about occupation. They will be coming from the same people who praised Israels withdrawal in 2005, who said, give peace a chance even though there was no chance, was no reciprocal Palestinian expression of commitment to peace in Gaza. Well, Israel gave peace a chance. Result? Hundreds of smuggling tunnels and thousands of rockets fired on Israeli civilians. Dont be surprised if Israel retakes the Philadelphi Corridor.
Why now? Because on January 7 Palestinians fired 10 mortar shells into the western Negev. A Katyusha rocket hit Ashkelon, the first since Cast Lead. Since then, more mortar shells have been fired from Gaza. We will not tolerate rocket attacks from terrorist groups against the State of Israel, said the IDF in a statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to terrorists at last Sundays cabinet meeting.
O yes, one may wonder something else: Hasnt Hamas noticed the economic boom in the West Bank? Hasnt Hamas noticed that this boom coincides precisely with the decline in Palestinian terrorism from the West Bank? Hasnt Hamas seen that when the Palestinians train a police force that acts like a police force and not, apparently, like a shadow terrorist force, the lives of Palestinians improve?
Of course Hamas has seen all this. Hamas does not care. Destruction of Israel is its goal. All else is secondary, if that.
Meanwhile, there are more funerals. Relatives of three dead Palestinians are in mourning. These three dead people constituted a cell preparing to fire a rocket into Israel, after others rockets had already been fired. The dead people are senior Islamic Jihad operatives. Senior terrorists. One of them was Abed Abu Nizal, may his name be blotted out, the senior field commander in the terrorist group. His job description: kill people. His story: the tragedy of the Palestinian people. His symbol: more of the same hatred, the same anti-Semitism, the same irrationality. His fate: dead himself.
Iran, take note.
