I had wondered who fired the mortars on Israel and why, and now it is explained as retaliation for IDF wounding a 68-year-old Palestinian. Of course, the Qassam attacks were also retaliation, for the Israeli killing of an Islamic Jihad man in the West Bank. It appears Israel committed the first violence in both incidents.
So what happens now? Is Israel going to retaliate for the Qassams, and so keep the cycle of violence going? Skeptics like me (and many in Israel) have assumed Israel agreed to the "truce" only to please George Bush and would jump at the first chance to break it when it could present an excuse, such as this Qassam incident.
Let`s face it: no peace is going to happen. It is not in Israel`s interest, since it gains more through being able to take over more land and water. This will only change if Hamas gains the ability to do far more harm to Israel, so that there will be a real incentive for a truce. Pity the poor Israelis close to Gaza. |
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