The murder of teenagers has again escalated the ever-present tension between Israelis and Palestinians, stirring street protests and clashes. Three Jewish teenagers, one of whom was also an American citizen, were abducted on 12 June while hitchhiking home from religious schools in the West Bank. Their whereabouts were unknown until their dead bodies were found on 30 June near the city of Hebron in the West Bank. Israel suspects Hamas terrorists killed the boys, and although Hamas denied culpability, it nonetheless cheered the abduction of the teens. On 2 July, a Palestinian teenager was abducted in East Jerusalem while waiting outside his home for his friends. The charred remains of his body were found that same day in a forest in Jerusalem. Hamas suspects Israelis killed the teenager, and the Israeli government denied culpability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the crime saying that “vigilantes have no place in our democracy.”
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Following the murder, hundreds of Palestinians protested against Israelis, flinging stones, hurling firebombs and rolling burning tires at Israeli security officials. Walls were emblazoned with graffiti saying, “Death to Israel” and “Death to the Jews.” They torched three small shelters for a light-rail line. Traffic lights were smashed and trash containers were overturned on streets. Israeli authorities had to deploy tanks, artillery and busloads of military personnel. Hamas militants responded with a barrage of rockets. As many as 30 rockets were fired at southern Israel in the 24 hours since the protests.
On 7 July, Netanyahu even phoned the father of the murdered Palestinian teenager to express his shock and to promise that the attackers would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Six Israelis have been arrested in what police say was probably a revenge attack for the abduction and killing of the three Jewish youths.
Following high level security deliberations Tuesday morning, Netanyahu decided to expand the military operation in Gaza, including beginning preparations for a ground operation. The deliberations took place following a Monday night rocket barrage on Israel and the feeling in Jerusalem that Hamas is interested in escalation. No time limit was put on the operation but senior diplomatic officials said it could be "for a long time."
Netanyahu said Tuesday that the time had come to "take off the gloves" against Hamas. "Hamas chose to escalate the situation and it will pay a heavy price for doing so," the prime minister said.
Following the launching of Operation "Protective Edge" to extinguish Hamas rocket fire, Israel declared a "special situation" in all areas of the South within 40km of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning. A special situation is a legal decree that allows various authorities to safeguard public safety through a variety of means reserved for times of conflict. The decision came after Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon completed a security evaluation meeting with the Home Front Commander, Maj.Gen. Eyal Eizenberg, as well as other civil defense chiefs, in which they examined the latest developments in the clash with Hamas.
Jordan, one of just two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, demanded Wednesday an immediate halt to Israeli air raids against the Gaza Strip. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani said that the raids that killed more than 20 Palestinians in "purported response to rocket fire that has killed no one in Israel" were "barbaric."
Hundreds of angry Jordanians protesting the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip clashed with security forces during a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in Amman, numerous media outlets reported on Thursday morning. Jordanian police arrested 10 people as clashes erupted when protesters threw stones at the embassy in Amman. Protesters waved flags and carried signs denouncing Israel and urging the government to abrogate the peace treaty signed with Jerusalem in 1994.
Jordan "condemns the military aggression that Israel has launched in the Gaza Strip," and calls for "its immediate halt," said Momani. He said the "barbaric aggression" had "negative repercussions on the Gaza Strip and the whole region." ...where he is right, he is right!
Negative repercussions for the whole region...what could have become a peaceful co-existence of Arabs and Jews, was again kicked into the trash by Hamas.
As Israel continues to defend its civilians, it will be increasingly taken to task for civilian losses among those who attacked it without provocation – while Israel continues to supply them with food, medication and, most meaningfully, electricity from the very Ashkelon power plant they unremittingly rocket...and even if they do it in a symbolic gesture...who in their right mind targets a power plant that could kill their own people???
If this was not enough, three rockets were launched at Dimona in southern Israel on Wednesday afternoon. The IRON DOME intercepted one rocket before it could land, while two other rockets landed in open areas. Dimona is the location of Israel's nuclear reactor. There was no indication that rockets damaged any part of the reactor. Militants from Hamas's Qassam Brigades said they had launched long-range M-75 rockets towards Dimona. To be blunt...WTF??? Who in their right mind targets a nuclear reactor???
Herein lies the vital distinction between Israel and its foes. Israel's enemies seek to kill as many civilians and to wreak as much destruction as they can. There was public celebration in Ramallah and Jenin as rockets were fired into central Israel. Israel seeks to make its strikes as pinpointed as possible. What military sends out warnings by SMS, phone and leaflets to civilians to evacuate targets? This reduces the effectiveness of the air force’s strikes, yet Israel still takes huge risks to spare enemy civilians. That said, in many cases Hamas counters these warnings by assembling civilians on roofs of buildings Israel is about to hit. The idea is to deter Israel with human shields, and to increase civilian casualties in Gaza. There is no getting around this reality of Hamas’ dirty war.
Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned Israeli air raids in the Gaza Strip, calling on the West to urge the Jewish state to prevent a "human catastrophe."
Iran calls on "Western countries and supporters of the Zionist regime (to) take firm a stance and prevent a human catastrophe and stop the attacks," while questioning an "unrealistic excuse of the kidnapping of three Zionist settlers."
Spontaneous protests by Israeli Arabs are likely to continue, and one major factor could determine if the demonstrations would continue beyond the next few days: The Arab leadership! If it decides to support the protests, they are sure to continue. The majority of Arabs want to live a normal life and integrate into Israeli society, but feel that they are treated like unwanted foreigners and second-class citizens. The spontaneous protests reflect these feelings. Nevertheless, standing behind a terrorist organisation like Hamas is just asking for trouble!
And while all this is happening, the international community is more interested in the Football FIFA World Cup having its finale on Sunday. Israel has reportedly struck 400 targets in Gaza and Hamas continues to fires its rockets, hundreds of them, deeper into Israeli territory than ever before, but the normally raucous international chorus has barely made a peep so far. It is surreal to think that just nine weeks ago the deadline for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to produce an outline for a comprehensive peace agreement passed, fruitlessly, and the American-brokered peace process collapsed. Now Israel and Hamas are battling for the third time in less than six years, in a conflict that more or less resembles the two previous ones.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, has now lost the ability to govern, control the other rocket-firing terrorist groups in Gaza, easily replenish its weapons, pay salaries, and keep the electricity on. One could argue that this escalation is, in part, about Hamas seeking to assert itself again, in the only way it can. Or perhaps, it could even strengthen Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
In its demands earlier this week for ending hostilities, Hamas asked for the ceasefire conditions from the last major round of fighting with Israel in 2012 to be reinstated, for the re-release of prisoners freed by Israel in exchange for the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who were rounded up again by Israeli after the kidnapping, and an end to what it says is Israeli meddling in the Palestinian unity government. Hamas is also not the same group that fought Israel in 2008-09 and 2012 in Gaza. Its military capabilities, observers say, have been enhanced, including the longer-range rockets it has developed. Hamas has also learned from the last two conflicts, becoming – apparently – more proactive in its tactics. In other words, far from being suicidal, there is a strong rationale behind its current strategy, at least part of which is designed to test Israel's own appetite for escalation. They see the region boiling over, and think maybe a conflict could push East Jerusalem and the West Bank to a third Intifada.
Hamas keeps resorting to the tool it is addicted to, namely, terrorist attacks on the territory of Israel – the intention being to provoke a reprisal by Israel that would eventually rally the Gaza population against the Jewish State. Experience shows, however, that once the dust settles, Gazans’ disappointment with Hamas remains high.
How might all this end? One exit strategy lies with Egypt. To some extent, Hamas is firing rockets and missiles at Israel in order to pressure Cairo to open the Rafah border crossing, and to enable the transfer of money via that crossing, in order to ensure the future survival of its regime...go figure...
The ouster of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood President a year ago has had a dramatic effect on Hamas. The Army-controlled government in Cairo sees Hamas as an enemy, and has cut off smuggling tunnels that were vital for the militant group to move supplies and weapons into Gaza. The economy in the coastal enclave is in crisis. With financial support from Qatar drying up, Hamas is broke. It's been unable to pay thousands of civil servants. So how long can it keep this rocket campaign against Israel?
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Following the murder, hundreds of Palestinians protested against Israelis, flinging stones, hurling firebombs and rolling burning tires at Israeli security officials. Walls were emblazoned with graffiti saying, “Death to Israel” and “Death to the Jews.” They torched three small shelters for a light-rail line. Traffic lights were smashed and trash containers were overturned on streets. Israeli authorities had to deploy tanks, artillery and busloads of military personnel. Hamas militants responded with a barrage of rockets. As many as 30 rockets were fired at southern Israel in the 24 hours since the protests.
On 7 July, Netanyahu even phoned the father of the murdered Palestinian teenager to express his shock and to promise that the attackers would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Six Israelis have been arrested in what police say was probably a revenge attack for the abduction and killing of the three Jewish youths.
Following high level security deliberations Tuesday morning, Netanyahu decided to expand the military operation in Gaza, including beginning preparations for a ground operation. The deliberations took place following a Monday night rocket barrage on Israel and the feeling in Jerusalem that Hamas is interested in escalation. No time limit was put on the operation but senior diplomatic officials said it could be "for a long time."
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| Israelis take cover on Ayalon as sirens blare in Tel Aviv. |
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| Israelis take cover in Tel Aviv area during sirens. |
Netanyahu said Tuesday that the time had come to "take off the gloves" against Hamas. "Hamas chose to escalate the situation and it will pay a heavy price for doing so," the prime minister said.
Following the launching of Operation "Protective Edge" to extinguish Hamas rocket fire, Israel declared a "special situation" in all areas of the South within 40km of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning. A special situation is a legal decree that allows various authorities to safeguard public safety through a variety of means reserved for times of conflict. The decision came after Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon completed a security evaluation meeting with the Home Front Commander, Maj.Gen. Eyal Eizenberg, as well as other civil defense chiefs, in which they examined the latest developments in the clash with Hamas.
Jordan, one of just two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, demanded Wednesday an immediate halt to Israeli air raids against the Gaza Strip. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani said that the raids that killed more than 20 Palestinians in "purported response to rocket fire that has killed no one in Israel" were "barbaric."
Hundreds of angry Jordanians protesting the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip clashed with security forces during a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in Amman, numerous media outlets reported on Thursday morning. Jordanian police arrested 10 people as clashes erupted when protesters threw stones at the embassy in Amman. Protesters waved flags and carried signs denouncing Israel and urging the government to abrogate the peace treaty signed with Jerusalem in 1994.
 |
| Jordanian riot police confront protesters during a demonstration in front of the Israeli Embassy in Amman. |
Jordan "condemns the military aggression that Israel has launched in the Gaza Strip," and calls for "its immediate halt," said Momani. He said the "barbaric aggression" had "negative repercussions on the Gaza Strip and the whole region." ...where he is right, he is right!
Negative repercussions for the whole region...what could have become a peaceful co-existence of Arabs and Jews, was again kicked into the trash by Hamas.
As Israel continues to defend its civilians, it will be increasingly taken to task for civilian losses among those who attacked it without provocation – while Israel continues to supply them with food, medication and, most meaningfully, electricity from the very Ashkelon power plant they unremittingly rocket...and even if they do it in a symbolic gesture...who in their right mind targets a power plant that could kill their own people???
If this was not enough, three rockets were launched at Dimona in southern Israel on Wednesday afternoon. The IRON DOME intercepted one rocket before it could land, while two other rockets landed in open areas. Dimona is the location of Israel's nuclear reactor. There was no indication that rockets damaged any part of the reactor. Militants from Hamas's Qassam Brigades said they had launched long-range M-75 rockets towards Dimona. To be blunt...WTF??? Who in their right mind targets a nuclear reactor???
 |
| IRON DOME fires a missile to intercept GRAD missiles fired from the Gaza Strip, as it defends an Israeli population center in the south of the country. |
Herein lies the vital distinction between Israel and its foes. Israel's enemies seek to kill as many civilians and to wreak as much destruction as they can. There was public celebration in Ramallah and Jenin as rockets were fired into central Israel. Israel seeks to make its strikes as pinpointed as possible. What military sends out warnings by SMS, phone and leaflets to civilians to evacuate targets? This reduces the effectiveness of the air force’s strikes, yet Israel still takes huge risks to spare enemy civilians. That said, in many cases Hamas counters these warnings by assembling civilians on roofs of buildings Israel is about to hit. The idea is to deter Israel with human shields, and to increase civilian casualties in Gaza. There is no getting around this reality of Hamas’ dirty war.
Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned Israeli air raids in the Gaza Strip, calling on the West to urge the Jewish state to prevent a "human catastrophe."
Iran calls on "Western countries and supporters of the Zionist regime (to) take firm a stance and prevent a human catastrophe and stop the attacks," while questioning an "unrealistic excuse of the kidnapping of three Zionist settlers."
Spontaneous protests by Israeli Arabs are likely to continue, and one major factor could determine if the demonstrations would continue beyond the next few days: The Arab leadership! If it decides to support the protests, they are sure to continue. The majority of Arabs want to live a normal life and integrate into Israeli society, but feel that they are treated like unwanted foreigners and second-class citizens. The spontaneous protests reflect these feelings. Nevertheless, standing behind a terrorist organisation like Hamas is just asking for trouble!
 |
| Hamas firing rocket. |
And while all this is happening, the international community is more interested in the Football FIFA World Cup having its finale on Sunday. Israel has reportedly struck 400 targets in Gaza and Hamas continues to fires its rockets, hundreds of them, deeper into Israeli territory than ever before, but the normally raucous international chorus has barely made a peep so far. It is surreal to think that just nine weeks ago the deadline for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to produce an outline for a comprehensive peace agreement passed, fruitlessly, and the American-brokered peace process collapsed. Now Israel and Hamas are battling for the third time in less than six years, in a conflict that more or less resembles the two previous ones.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, has now lost the ability to govern, control the other rocket-firing terrorist groups in Gaza, easily replenish its weapons, pay salaries, and keep the electricity on. One could argue that this escalation is, in part, about Hamas seeking to assert itself again, in the only way it can. Or perhaps, it could even strengthen Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
In its demands earlier this week for ending hostilities, Hamas asked for the ceasefire conditions from the last major round of fighting with Israel in 2012 to be reinstated, for the re-release of prisoners freed by Israel in exchange for the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, who were rounded up again by Israeli after the kidnapping, and an end to what it says is Israeli meddling in the Palestinian unity government. Hamas is also not the same group that fought Israel in 2008-09 and 2012 in Gaza. Its military capabilities, observers say, have been enhanced, including the longer-range rockets it has developed. Hamas has also learned from the last two conflicts, becoming – apparently – more proactive in its tactics. In other words, far from being suicidal, there is a strong rationale behind its current strategy, at least part of which is designed to test Israel's own appetite for escalation. They see the region boiling over, and think maybe a conflict could push East Jerusalem and the West Bank to a third Intifada.
 |
| Gaza rocket being fired into Israel. Note that they are being fired from civilian areas in the city center. |
Hamas keeps resorting to the tool it is addicted to, namely, terrorist attacks on the territory of Israel – the intention being to provoke a reprisal by Israel that would eventually rally the Gaza population against the Jewish State. Experience shows, however, that once the dust settles, Gazans’ disappointment with Hamas remains high.
How might all this end? One exit strategy lies with Egypt. To some extent, Hamas is firing rockets and missiles at Israel in order to pressure Cairo to open the Rafah border crossing, and to enable the transfer of money via that crossing, in order to ensure the future survival of its regime...go figure...
The ouster of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood President a year ago has had a dramatic effect on Hamas. The Army-controlled government in Cairo sees Hamas as an enemy, and has cut off smuggling tunnels that were vital for the militant group to move supplies and weapons into Gaza. The economy in the coastal enclave is in crisis. With financial support from Qatar drying up, Hamas is broke. It's been unable to pay thousands of civil servants. So how long can it keep this rocket campaign against Israel?
