When Israel cut fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip, causing power outages, officials voiced hope that the move would prompt Palestinians to pressure the Hamas government to crack down on Qassam fire.
But critics have questioned the premise and the efficacy of the policy, with its risks of a humanitarian disaster and international condemnation.
There have also been questions about Israel's willingness to carry through the policy, which was relaxed soon after it began, to allow limited shipments of fuel and medicines into the Strip.
To what extent can an Israeli embargo curb Qassam fire? If it can, how should it best be implemented? If it cannot, what other alternatives should be tried?
What you think
Unfortunately, the Quassams will continue to rain on Israel until Israelis face the reality that no matter how many people Israel kills, maims or severely mistreats in Gaza, the ONLY solution is to negotiate a fair peace with Hamas, as several others have noted. In the long term, nothing else will work and is in fact counterproductive. Israel can NOT kill its way to peace. Historically, mistreating people has NEVER made them responsive to long term, real peace. How long a peace does Israel want? a few months can be achieved by force. Multiple generations will require Israel to give up a lot of land, water and cash through unconditional negotiation. Yes, most of Israel's dreams will die, but Israelis will not.
J Gend,
Seattle,
U.S.A.
Isn't it time to take this question off the table and out of Haaretz? I'd say Hamas answered it.
Jane Maestro,
U.S.A.
re "collective punishment" and "war crimes": isn't a boycott collective punishment? Wouldn't it be a war crime?
Naval blockade by UK of Napoleon's Europe; Northern blockade of Confederacy in Civil War. Aerial blockade and embargo of Iraq prior to Gulf War II -- collective punishment? War crimes?
We might be better off if we'd kept to that method in Iraq, instead of invading. But S. Arabia wanted our bases off their "holy soil," and the US wanted bases near the oil. Where better to put them than in Iraq?
Douglas Stahl,
Highland Park,
U.S.A.
There is no doubt that the Arab narrative of Palestinian victimhood has prevailed over the truth that Hamas has deceptively - if not completely falsified - the extent of the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza by a partial embargo imposed by Israel in response to the unremitting Qassam rocket attacks on innocent Israelis in Sderot and environs. Hamas has perfected the art of dissembling - e.g.candle-lit houses in Gaza City - which a credulous and bigoted world has swallowed hook, line and sinker.
Fay Dicker Dicker,
Lakewood N.J.,
U.S.A.
The only way the rockets will stop is if Israel is prepared to negotiate with Hamas.
Alberto Graber,
Vancouver,
Canada
The only way the rockets will stop is if Israel is prepared to negotiate with Hamas. Any other "solution" is an illusion. I just feel sorry for all the carnage in the Palestinian territories and Israel alike.
Alberto Graber,
Vancouver,
Canada
So far, the blockade of Gaza has not resulted in decreased Qassam bombardment. However, it has certainly caused great suffering to many people who may dislike Israel, but are not terrorists. Surely the only way to proceed is to begin discussions with Hamas, who I believe have even offered a cease fire. If the Israeli government continues with this policy, it may itself be responsible for any tragedies caused by this Qassam fire.
Jules Kadish,
London,
United Kingdom
As long as Israel did not give the Palestinians real sovereignty, also not in Gaza from where it "disengaged", Israel is responsible for the well-being of the population. Blockading the Gaza Strip is nothing less than making one and a half miillion people, for whom Israel bears responsibility, into hostages. And the question "Can a blockade stop Qassam fire?" is an immoral one.
Beate Zilversmidt,
Holon,
Israel
The embargo wont be able to curb Qassam fire. The resources for developing the rockets are being brought in from Egypt via tunnels. An embargo will only upset people more, which is EXACTLY what Hamas wants. They want Israelis to be viewed as evil. The more desperate that Gazans become because of Israel, the more they will want to fight back. It is ok to not allow Gazans to work within Israel, but it is not ok to limit their means of survival.
The most peaceful and best long-term idea, still, is to create a canal along the Egyptian-Gazan border. The next best plan would be to assassinate the top members of Hamas.
Anthony Spectorman,
Stony Brook,
U.S.A.
The only thing that can stop the qassams is a decision, once and for all, to talk to Hamas
Louis Williams,
Israel
Gaza is no longer included in the blanket "end the occupation" mantra. The only thing that can stop the qassams is a decision, once and for all, to talk to Hamas - the same decision that should have been made exactly two years ago when they won a democratic election! Talking to Hamas might just bring about a situation of ceasefire with them (for which they have declared readiness), which in turn could bring Hamas to exert control over the rocket firers of Islamic Jihad and other groups.
Louis Williams,
Israel
Israel must have an alternative plan to finish the rocket firing on her, by blocking all the tunnels coming from Egypt to Israel
Naser Abul Haj,
Jerusalem,
Israel
A bad image for Israel's reputation is coming out around the world from the blockade of fuel and food supplies. Israel must have an alternative plan to finish the rocket firing on her, by blocking all the tunnels coming from Egypt to Israel, which Hamas uses to smuggle all of its weapons. If Israel manages to do so then the arms supplies to Hamas will become weaker and weaker and at the end the rocket firing should stop. A collective punishment for the Palestinians in Gaza will generate more hatred toward the Israeli people rather than helping to protect them
Naser Abul Haj,
Jerusalem,
Israel
Not only can it stop qassam fire. In time the blockade can also stop the smuggling of dirty bombs that originate in the FSU and are shipped in freight cars to Iran who in turn ship them to Nazirallah in Lebanon and to Hamas via Egypt.
Nat Ben Menachem,
Jerusalem,
Israel
One says... The other says... It's a house of mirrors, and Gaza crystallizes it.
James Adler,
Boston,
U.S.A.
This conflict is like a house of mirrors in: How best to get at what lies behind everyone's excruciating suffering in order to end it?
One source emphasizes that the power outage was only in Gaza City. Another emphasizes it says Gaza because Gaza city is the main and largest city. One emphasizes that Hamas, not Israel, shut down the power. Another says Hamas shut the power because it says Israel denied it the fuel to maintain the power. One says this is Hamas grandstanding. Another says the fuel shortage is real and bitter. One says all the Gazans need to do is stop the Sderot missiles to get their fuel. Another says it's not the Gazans but Hamas, and Gazans shouldn't suffer for Hamas. One emphasizes that the people support Hamas, and want to destroy Israel, and also, emphasize, inconsistently, that Hamas is a dictatorship which, if it is, is the entity responsible for the missiles. Another emphasizes that the people wanted Hamas for its clean government and social services and despair over decades of unjustified poverty and refugee camps dating from 1948 and "gated community" affluent finger-in-their-eye Israeli settlements, and that the people never deserved this and and built up cumulative anger that any people would, and have expressed their anger through Hamas. One emphasizes that the shelling of Sderot is also collective punishment and a war crime against innocent civilians. Another emphasizes the long injustice and displacement and occupation of the Palestinians dating back to 1948 and even further back to Balfour that colonially stole from them their own country and have impoverished and occupied them ever since. One says this is "ancient history", and the Gazans like the Palestinians in general have failed to seize their opportunity to look to the future and show that their people can build a nation, and that most of the West Bank would be freed from occupation by now if they were more constructive; and quote Golda Meir that if only the Palestinians would try to build their own country and its youth rather than try to destroy Israel's and their youth. Another claims that this is one of the world's last colonial outposts, and affirms that the violence won't end, any more than it did in French colonial Algeria and the Algerian War, or even in apartheid South Africa, until this outpost of colonialism and (they say) apartheid ends, which is claimed to be the most basic lesson -- in broadest strokes -- of all modern history's colonial and post-colonial struggles.
One says... The other says... It's a house of mirrors, and Gaza crystallizes it. Sometimes at least for me it brings me to despair-- about how most objectively to analyze it, and then to resolve it and eventually bring healing, reconciliation, justice, security and peace for all.
James Adler,
Boston,
U.S.A.
bad "fragmentation" has completely destroyed any real hope for a contiguous Palestinian
Michael Hess,
Charlotte,
U.S.A.
End the occupations to end the resistance. Two of the most persistent myths surrounding this decades long conflict are that territory gained by the 1967 war now belongs to Israel, and secondly Arabs do not want peace.
The first is wrong because UN resolution 242 makes quite clear in "Emphasizing the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war" and it further affirms and requires "Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict."
The second is wrong because the Arab world through then Prince Abdullah proffered the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 in Beirut, with the initiative unanimously consented to by the Arab League, and yet again five years later in March 2007 in Riyadh.
The most recent UN report from the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP), a tool used by world aid organizations to plan for best and worst case scenarios in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, shows just how bad "fragmentation" has completely destroyed any real hope for a contiguous Palestinian state saying that "Almost 40% of the West Bank is taken up by Israeli settlements, outposts, military infrastructure, nature reserves and closed areas west of the Barrier.
President Bush recently called it "Swiss Cheese", former President Carter named it Apartheid, and CAP reports that number does not fully reveal the extent of the 41 year-old occupation. In light of these facts, it is understandable why Palestinians, many of whom are subsisting on a mere $1.50 per day, see no hope for the future or a state of their own.
Michael Hess,
Charlotte,
U.S.A.
Two of the most persistent myths surrounding this decade's long conflict are that territory gained by the 1967 war now belongs to Israel, and secondly, Arabs do not want peace.
The first is wrong because UN Resolution 242 focuses on "emphasizing the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war" and it further affirms and requires "withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict."
The second is wrong because the Arab world, through then Prince Abdullah, proffered the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 in Beirut, with the initiative unanimously consented to by the Arab League, and yet again five years later in March 2007 in Riyadh.
The most recent UN report from the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP), a tool used by world aid organizations to plan for best and worst case scenarios in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, shows just how bad "fragmentation" has completely destroyed any real hope for a contiguous Palestinian state saying that "Almost 40% of the West Bank is taken up by Israeli settlements, outposts, military infrastructure, nature reserves and closed areas west of the Barrier."
President Bush recently called it "Swiss cheese", former President Carter named it "apartheid," and CAP reports that the estimated figure does not fully reveal the extent of the 41-year-old occupation. In light of these facts, it is understandable why Palestinians, many of whom are subsisting on a mere $1.50 per day, see no hope for the future or a state of their own.
Michael Hess,
Charlotte, N.C.,
U.S.A.
Hamas wants to destroy Israel, and they are attempting to do so with their Qassams. If there is a humanitarian crisis, it is only the fault of the Palestinians, certainly not the people they are bombing every day. Any other healthy country would bomb them back until they stop the Qassams. Israel is way too gentle on people who teach their children Mein Kampf. Hamas, Al Qaeda, Al Aksa Brigade, Hizbullah, Fatah and the PLO are all the same: they want to destroy Israel. Israel should, therefore, fight back until the terrorism stops. Israel should not give them any supplies, money, medical help, electricity, or water until they agree to leave Israel alone and stop fighting. Remember the Karine A with terrorist supplies from Iran to Arafat? Hamas is even more determined to destroy Israel, and Iran wants to nuke any infidel they can. The best way to help Gaza is to allow them to destroy themselves, which they are doing anyway.
Robert Harris,
Chicago, IL,
U.S.A.
As an American, I am naturally drawn to technological solutions. Is there no defense against the Qassam rocket? No surface-to-air system that can detect and hit the rockets in the air? If there isn't a system, why haven't the arms developers been working on one? It's not as if this is a new problem.
Jason Mundstuk,
Oakland, CA,
U.S.A.
The answer is no. As long as Abbas and the Palestinians continue to teach and educate their children hatred of Jews, the West and Western Culture, continue to reinforce that hatred through their media outlets and continue to believe that they can make the rest of the world look at them as victims so they can continue to justify their terrorism it will never end. This is nothing more than a dog and pony show. Abbas, like Arafat before him, is negotiating while he sends his army, Hamas, out to make war on the People of Israel.
There is a way to end the barrage of Quassam Rockets from Gaza but that will take a commitment and a price that neither Israel or the West are willing to pay. The West must stop looking at the Palestinians as victims but begin to look at them as a people making war on the Sovereign State and the People of Israel. The West must accept the fact that the people of Gaza not only supports Hamas and the Terrorists but they are providing Hamas and the Terrorists logistical support, shelter, food, and ammunition and other supplies to allow the Terrorists to make war on the People of Israel. The West must come to the realization that these are not innocent civilians but in truth combatants who are participating in making war on the People and the State of Israel. The West must ask a simple question: Where are the Palestinians getting the resources to purchase the material to make Quassam rockets and the launchers used to fire the rockets against the people of Israel? The United Nations needs to put sanctions against the Palestinian Authority reducing any financial aid in relationship to the cost of purchasing the equipment and weaponry the Palestinians are using against the people of Israel. Second, the West must declare that there is to be no occupation in Gaza. The Palestinians must be made to know that the pain that they are suffering in Gaza results solely at the door of their own leadership, especially Hamas. Third, the West must understand that actions, such as shutting borders between Gaza and Israel is a defensive measure taken by the Government of Israel, cutting off the supplies necessary for the Palestinians to commit acts of war against the people of Israel.
The State of Israel must be prepared to take actions which no one wants to take. If the Palestinians refuse to stop committing acts of war on the people of Israel, the State of Israel will take all necessary actions needed to prevent the Palestinian people from having the ability to make war on the people of Israel. During the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln turned to General Ulysses S. Grant to win the war. Grant turned to General William T. Sherman who developed the "scorch earth" policy. Sherman burned the South to the ground denying the South the resources and logistics and the ability to continue to make war on the citizens of the North. It was that policy that forced the South to surrender. What is needed is a similar policy now in Gaza. To stop the rockets, Israel must be willing to commit the necessary man power and force and begin to burn Gaza to the ground until the rockets stop or their people find out what true refugee and homeless status are really like. That action will be costly and painful. But in the end the Palestinian people, as long as the West does not cry for them, will come to understand that their leaders have led them to destruction, death, and despair and demand the end of their leaders making war on the people of Israel and the West. The real question is, is the people of Israel ready to make the commitment and pay the price in lives on both sides to execute this policy? I don't think so.
Stephen Kogan,
Chicago,
U.S.A.
This is the best idea I have heard to stop the terror and tragedy of Sderot.
Barbara Obrman,
Herzliya Pituach,
Israel
Lenny Ben David wrote that "every time Hamas fires a Qassam or Katyusha rocket at Sderot or Ashkeloon Israel should open the passageways into Gaza but ONLY so that it could trade an oil tanker or a food shipment for every ton of explosives,unfired katyusha, or l00 RPG's turned over by Hamas for destruction. That would guarantee Gaza thousands of supply trucks." This is the best idea I have heard to stop the terror and tragedy of Sderot.
Barbara Obrman,
Herzliya Pituach,
Israel
Maybe I am just too simple minded,but i think there is a very easy solution to qassam rockets. Since 80% of Gaza's population supports Hamas, here is the deal: For every qassam that hits Israel, all of Gaza's supplies should be cut off for one day! IT IS UP TO YOU NOW!
Leslie Fried,
Richmond Hill,
Canada
The best policy would have been to target the militants who send Qassams while signaling that Israel was ready for a cease fire.
Peter Saraiva,
Portugal
The death of 17 palestinians in Gaza a few days ago followed by the cut of fuel was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Barak was foolish. He believed wrongly that it was possible to increase the pressure on Gaza without paying the political price and without awakening europe and the Arab world.
He was wrong.The best policy would have been to target the militants who send Qassams while signaling that Israel was ready for a cease fire.
Peter Saraiva,
Portugal
Collective punishment is a war crime. Under any excuse! And no, Qassams will not stop as long as the land theft, the construction of settlements, the intimidation at checkpoints and the demolition of homes do not stop.
Israel can break the cycle, but it is simply not interested!
Messaoud Abuzakaria,
London,
United Kingdom
How about: No blockage, no killings of Palestinian's, means no rocket fire?
Guy Emmerson,
Surrey,
United Kingdom
"Counter-force" is the only thing that works in the Middle East.
Avi Metcalfe,
Jerusalem,
Israel
Not at all. Sending a "message" to the civilian population makes no sense-they are ruled by despotic terrorists and do not control their own fate.
Only "counter-force" works. Strike the snake in the head, again and again as necessary. The message will get through, and the additional benefit will be the disorganization of the terrorist infrastructure.
Those who would rule Gaza will get into line when their (the terrorists themselves) survival is starkly displayed before them. Look at the example of Kaddafi, or the report that Iran was awed into halting its bomb program by Saddam's hanging. "Counter-force" is the only thing that works in the Middle East.
Avi Metcalfe,
Jerusalem,
Israel
There is no nice way to commit crimes against humanity.
David Howard,
Ojai, California,
U.S.A.
There is no nice way to commit crimes against humanity. Collective punishment of Gazans will not solve any of Israel's problems, but rather will only exacerbate them, while causing immense gratuitous harm to Palestinians. Non-violence is difficult, but it is the only way to ensure sustainable peace and justice.
David Howard,
Ojai, California,
U.S.A.
Simple answer.. Have your muscles stopped Lebanese resistance? No! If I lost my brother by your murdering machine, will I care about electricity? You are killing at least 10 innocent children a day. Is that not counted for reaction? Wake up Israelis, your killing machine will only create a new generation of fighters. You know that but you don't care about the future.
Ellie Haddad,
Jounieh,
Lebanon
No, end the occupation in accordance with international U.N.S.C. Resolution number 242; all the hostilities against Israel will stop.
