Israeli Viewpoint: With a Billy-club in Hand
July 11, 2006
Haaretz
By Yoel Marcus
It's hardly been two weeks since Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and the army launched Operation Summer Rains in Gaza, and the public is already chomping at the bit. How come they haven't wiped out Hamas yet? How come they haven't freed the soldier? According to a report in Maariv, even the prime minister complained privately to MK Benny Elon that the army isn't coming up with bright ideas and creative solutions fast enough.
In World War II, Churchill sacked a series of illustrious generals until he found the right commander for the critical battle at El Alamein - the legendary Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery. Churchill was Churchill. He had leadership authority and a head for defense. Ariel Sharon did the same thing. He told former chief of staff, Moshe Ya'alon, to pack his bags, and brought in Dan Halutz to carry out the disengagement from Gaza. Now, Halutz, himself, is facing the ultimate test.
Ehud Olmert did good when he stopped whining, got a grip on himself and provided encouragement and backing for Summer Rains. Summer Rains is a "rolling operation," without a completion date but with two clearly defined objectives - to put an end to the Qassam attacks on towns and cities in Israel, and bring about the release of Corporal Shalit.
Amir Peretz did good by telling the public to cool it. "We are now in a 'waiting period,' like before the Six-Day War," he said. "Everyone wants 'action' right away. Everyone wants answers and retaliation on the spot. But sometimes it's better to sit and wait until the other side makes a mistake." Arguably, the first smart thing we've heard the new defense minister say.
His reference to the eve of the Six-Day War is especially interesting. When Moshe Dayan was appointed defense minister in June 1967, he was pushed and prodded and bombarded with questions about what he was waiting for. Dayan, who insisted on a media blackout, would answer coolly: What's the rush? Has anyone been killed in Tel Aviv? Until one morning, totally unexpectedly, the Egyptian air force was knocked out before it got off the ground, and the war was over almost as soon as it had begun.
It is wrong to stand over the army with a stopwatch in hand when a multi-task operation is in process. Complex operations like Summer Rains in which all branches of the military work together - going in, striking, retreating and then starting over again, so as not to become sitting ducks a la Lebanon - do not end overnight. The army must be allowed to work at its own pace and use the strategies it sees fit without going into a panic.
Olmert and Avi Dichter also did good by standing together and unifying their position on Sunday: There will be no surrender to blackmail; prisoners will not be released in return for freeing Shalit; and the military action will not end until the Qassams stop.
The fiercer the attacks on the rocket-launchers and their bosses in Gaza, the more the captured soldier has gone from being an asset to a liability for Hamas. It is no coincidence that Ismail Haniyeh proposed a cease-fire and offered to release Shalit in exchange for Israel's release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Olmert was right to turn down that offer. Israel should not grant this murderous terror organization recognition and legitimacy.
Firstly, because it is impossible to trust an organization with so many branches, each doing whatever it likes. Secondly, we cannot negotiate with a prime minister who is not prepared to recognize Israel's existence. Thirdly, we cannot strengthen Hamas at the expense of Abbas, the only reasonable partner we have, even if he is a weak one. And most importantly, Hamas cannot be allowed to emerge from Summer Rains claiming any kind of strategic victory.
Israel cannot refuse to negotiate for the release of the kidnapped soldier, but there can be no formal talks with governments that grant recognition to Hamas. Those who fire rockets day after day at civilian populations deserve to watch their houses go up in smoke and their supporters bleed. The purpose of Israel's military actions is to force them to end the rocket fire and return the abducted soldier.
If Haniyeh says he is prepared for a hudna and negotiations, one can only assume that Summer Rains is starting to put pressure on him. At the same time, Israel should not be turning away those who have expressed goodwill, like Hosni Mubarak, who are doing what they can to mediate secretly for Shalit's release and an end to the Qassam attacks.
In war, dialogue is also an option - provided we keep a billy-club in hand.
Haaretz
By Yoel Marcus
It's hardly been two weeks since Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and the army launched Operation Summer Rains in Gaza, and the public is already chomping at the bit. How come they haven't wiped out Hamas yet? How come they haven't freed the soldier? According to a report in Maariv, even the prime minister complained privately to MK Benny Elon that the army isn't coming up with bright ideas and creative solutions fast enough.
In World War II, Churchill sacked a series of illustrious generals until he found the right commander for the critical battle at El Alamein - the legendary Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery. Churchill was Churchill. He had leadership authority and a head for defense. Ariel Sharon did the same thing. He told former chief of staff, Moshe Ya'alon, to pack his bags, and brought in Dan Halutz to carry out the disengagement from Gaza. Now, Halutz, himself, is facing the ultimate test.
Ehud Olmert did good when he stopped whining, got a grip on himself and provided encouragement and backing for Summer Rains. Summer Rains is a "rolling operation," without a completion date but with two clearly defined objectives - to put an end to the Qassam attacks on towns and cities in Israel, and bring about the release of Corporal Shalit.
Amir Peretz did good by telling the public to cool it. "We are now in a 'waiting period,' like before the Six-Day War," he said. "Everyone wants 'action' right away. Everyone wants answers and retaliation on the spot. But sometimes it's better to sit and wait until the other side makes a mistake." Arguably, the first smart thing we've heard the new defense minister say.
His reference to the eve of the Six-Day War is especially interesting. When Moshe Dayan was appointed defense minister in June 1967, he was pushed and prodded and bombarded with questions about what he was waiting for. Dayan, who insisted on a media blackout, would answer coolly: What's the rush? Has anyone been killed in Tel Aviv? Until one morning, totally unexpectedly, the Egyptian air force was knocked out before it got off the ground, and the war was over almost as soon as it had begun.
It is wrong to stand over the army with a stopwatch in hand when a multi-task operation is in process. Complex operations like Summer Rains in which all branches of the military work together - going in, striking, retreating and then starting over again, so as not to become sitting ducks a la Lebanon - do not end overnight. The army must be allowed to work at its own pace and use the strategies it sees fit without going into a panic.
Olmert and Avi Dichter also did good by standing together and unifying their position on Sunday: There will be no surrender to blackmail; prisoners will not be released in return for freeing Shalit; and the military action will not end until the Qassams stop.
The fiercer the attacks on the rocket-launchers and their bosses in Gaza, the more the captured soldier has gone from being an asset to a liability for Hamas. It is no coincidence that Ismail Haniyeh proposed a cease-fire and offered to release Shalit in exchange for Israel's release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Olmert was right to turn down that offer. Israel should not grant this murderous terror organization recognition and legitimacy.
Firstly, because it is impossible to trust an organization with so many branches, each doing whatever it likes. Secondly, we cannot negotiate with a prime minister who is not prepared to recognize Israel's existence. Thirdly, we cannot strengthen Hamas at the expense of Abbas, the only reasonable partner we have, even if he is a weak one. And most importantly, Hamas cannot be allowed to emerge from Summer Rains claiming any kind of strategic victory.
Israel cannot refuse to negotiate for the release of the kidnapped soldier, but there can be no formal talks with governments that grant recognition to Hamas. Those who fire rockets day after day at civilian populations deserve to watch their houses go up in smoke and their supporters bleed. The purpose of Israel's military actions is to force them to end the rocket fire and return the abducted soldier.
If Haniyeh says he is prepared for a hudna and negotiations, one can only assume that Summer Rains is starting to put pressure on him. At the same time, Israel should not be turning away those who have expressed goodwill, like Hosni Mubarak, who are doing what they can to mediate secretly for Shalit's release and an end to the Qassam attacks.
In war, dialogue is also an option - provided we keep a billy-club in hand.
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 5:14 PM
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