Amid talk of an impending cease fire over Gaza, three prominent Israeli observers indicate that something fundamental changed when Hamas targeted Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and a return to the status quo is unacceptable.
They hope Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood can be convinced to restrain its terror-protege Hamas and cut off future smuggling of unguided rockets and guided anti-tank missiles. Otherwise, an IDF ground invasion will be necessary.
Retired IDF Brigadier General Michael Herzog thinks most of the rockets and anti-tank guided missiles Hamas had were destroyed in the first air strikes, and if Egypt can be persuaded, a ground invasion might be avoided.
Former Mossad director Efraim Halevy agrees that Egypt’s intervention is necessary, but also thinks it’s time for the Israeli government to development a comprehensive Gaza strategy.
And Brett Stephens, former editor of the Jerusalem Post, who wishes he had not supported the Israeli government’s peace-seeking 2005 withdrawal of IDF troops and Israeli settlers from Gaza adds: “Israel can afford to watch only so many reruns of this same, sordid show.”
UPDATE: Residents in Beersheba, under rocket assault most of the year, don’t want to see any truce until Hamas is whipped once and for all.
MORE: So Barry-the-double-gamer got what he wanted: a ceasefire, so Hamas can live to rocket another day. How long it will last is anybody’s guess. Not long, I’d wager.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 