What are Feeds?
No Further Provocation Needed
March 10, 2007
According to retired Brigadier General of Israel's Southern Command, Zvica Vogel, Israel needs no further provocation to engage hostile forces in Gaza. "What other nation in the world would suffer 200 rocket attacks during a ceasefire and refrain from retaliation?" This was the question General Vogel posed to foreign journalists standing at the three-way border between Israel, Egypt, and Gaza.
General Vogel also emphatically stated that "a war between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is unavoidable." He ventured an educated prediction that the war would commence between April 15 and May 15 and would last at least 6 months. In his professional opinion, Israel cannot sit idly any longer without taking drastic military action against a sworn enemy.
Israel already has sufficient motivation and reason to strike Gaza; they do not need any additional provocation. According to Major General Yoav Galant, Southern Command Chief for the IDF, "since the [August 2005] disengagement, 2053 Qassam rockets have been launched at Israel, 296 explosive charges have been detonated, 143 attacks were carried out against [Israeli] tanks outside of the security fence and 260 incidents of gunfire at IDF forces outside the fence." He went on to say that "at present, we are giving the ceasefire a chance, but at the same time, we are preparing for a military offensive in Gaza."
General Vogel gave several reasons why Israel would soon be forced into war in the Gaza Strip.
General Vogel also emphatically stated that "a war between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is unavoidable." He ventured an educated prediction that the war would commence between April 15 and May 15 and would last at least 6 months. In his professional opinion, Israel cannot sit idly any longer without taking drastic military action against a sworn enemy.
Israel already has sufficient motivation and reason to strike Gaza; they do not need any additional provocation. According to Major General Yoav Galant, Southern Command Chief for the IDF, "since the [August 2005] disengagement, 2053 Qassam rockets have been launched at Israel, 296 explosive charges have been detonated, 143 attacks were carried out against [Israeli] tanks outside of the security fence and 260 incidents of gunfire at IDF forces outside the fence." He went on to say that "at present, we are giving the ceasefire a chance, but at the same time, we are preparing for a military offensive in Gaza."
General Vogel gave several reasons why Israel would soon be forced into war in the Gaza Strip.
- IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has not been released from Hamas captivity. His release was a condition of the November 2006 ceasefire agreement 6 months ago, and Hamas has yet to honor their end of the agreement.
- The Israeli political leadership is in dire need of a military victory. They need to demonstrate to the Israeli people a determination to defend Israel and her citizens by effective military means, and they also need to show other hostile neighbors that Israel is once again capable of decisive military action when provoked.
- Israel must strike before Hamas has further organized their military infrastructure. Hamas is currently building an army of professionally trained soldiers. Acting General Galant supported the claim this week when he commented that "Hamas is not just a few terrorists or a small terrorist group, but an entire network with four brigades, each of which has divisions, companies and battalions." General Galant went on to say that Hamas was taking advantage of the "open or porous" border with Egypt and sending men to Iran to be trained or were being trained by Iranian commanders at bases in the Gaza Strip.
- Israel must crush Hamas before they completely overrun the Palestinian Authority. Hamas is trying to gain political control of the Palestinian Authority and turn Gaza into "a Hamas Nation". Israel is convinced that Hamas will never recognize Israel as a nation and if a unity government between the PA and Hamas is formed it will not take long for Hamas to overtake the PA and dominate the Palestinian political arena.
The Palestinians in Gaza have their own motivations in going to war with Israel. Currently, Gaza is divided between three terrorist organizations; Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad. Islamic Jihad is a relatively small radical faction that is not as organized as the Fatah or Hamas. Fatah is in charge of the Palestinian Authority and is led by President Abbas. They have the most men and weapons but are reportedly not as organized as Hamas. Hamas is the most dangerous because they have great determination and hatred for Israel and are considered loyal to the "cause" for not negotiating with the "Zionist entity" - Israel. Hamas is also very organized and well funded by Iran, Syria, and Egypt. The greatest threat comes from Hamas because they have the most to gain from a war with Israel.
Hamas cannot be Hamas and recognize the state of Israel. One of their founding principles is non-negotiation with the "Zionist entity". They must show the Palestinian people that they are living up to Arab honor and not compromising like Fatah. Hamas needs a war to bolster support among the Palestinian population. Soon after the Hamas capture of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, local support for Hamas in Gaza soared. A successful campaign against Israel would most likely mean the end of Fatah. Instead of waging a bloody civil war against fellow Palestinians, Hamas can defeat Fatah by taking the fight to the Israelis.
According to General Vogel the balance of motivation and ability is at a critical point. Hamas is becoming well trained and organized by Iran and their confidence is building. They are testing better rockets that reach further into Israel than ever before. They are getting better explosives and experience in the use of these new munitions by test firing them at Israeli settlements on a daily basis. General Vogel stressed the fact that the rockets currently falling daily on Sderot and Ashkelon are only for the purpose of testing new equipment. He estimates that Hamas currently has thousands of rockets stockpiled that they will soon fire at Israel at the rate of 100 a day for three solid weeks.
Professional IDF soldiers predicting an inevitable conflict with Hamas is a significant cause for concern. General Vogel is confident that Israel will be victorious and that Hamas will suffer a devastating blow from which they will not recover. Israel will only then be in the position to negotiate with less hostile neighbors in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas cannot be Hamas and recognize the state of Israel. One of their founding principles is non-negotiation with the "Zionist entity". They must show the Palestinian people that they are living up to Arab honor and not compromising like Fatah. Hamas needs a war to bolster support among the Palestinian population. Soon after the Hamas capture of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, local support for Hamas in Gaza soared. A successful campaign against Israel would most likely mean the end of Fatah. Instead of waging a bloody civil war against fellow Palestinians, Hamas can defeat Fatah by taking the fight to the Israelis.
According to General Vogel the balance of motivation and ability is at a critical point. Hamas is becoming well trained and organized by Iran and their confidence is building. They are testing better rockets that reach further into Israel than ever before. They are getting better explosives and experience in the use of these new munitions by test firing them at Israeli settlements on a daily basis. General Vogel stressed the fact that the rockets currently falling daily on Sderot and Ashkelon are only for the purpose of testing new equipment. He estimates that Hamas currently has thousands of rockets stockpiled that they will soon fire at Israel at the rate of 100 a day for three solid weeks.
Professional IDF soldiers predicting an inevitable conflict with Hamas is a significant cause for concern. General Vogel is confident that Israel will be victorious and that Hamas will suffer a devastating blow from which they will not recover. Israel will only then be in the position to negotiate with less hostile neighbors in the Gaza Strip.
