Only one thing can possibly reduce the scope of Israel Defense Forces attack operations in the territories: serious, sustained activity undertaken by Palestinian Authority preventive security forces against the terror infrastructure. Should the PA not make such a move, the IDF will continue its attacks on Hamas' and Islamic Jihad's leadership and terrorist networks.
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While Israel has decided not to cause harm to the general Palestinian population, it will not be possible in the IDF operations to avoid harming figures associated with Hamas' social-religious networks.
Israel might discuss a truce toward the end of the process of a full crackdown on the terrorist organizations.
It came to light recently that during negotiations between Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the Islamic organizations agreed to accept a truce only after the Palestinian prime minister promised not to harm their terror infrastructures. Israel refuses to accept such an arrangement.
Much now depends upon anti-terror actions taken by Mohammed Dahlan, and preventive security leaders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The recent series of IDF attacks on Hamas' leaders and major field operatives has reinforced a warning that Israel issued in the past: Should the Palestinians not take firm steps against the terror infrastructure, Israel has warned, it will do so itself, using still more drastic measures.
The scope and intensity of Palestinian actions against the terror infrastructure will influence the nature of Israel's attacks against terrorists. Should the PA's activity against the terror infrastructure slacken, the IDF will intensify its anti-terror operations, possibly including attacks on the highest leadership stratum of Hamas.
The character of targets chosen by Israel in anti-terror operations has changed. IDF forces strike against terror operatives, and also against leaders from the militant Islamic organizations. This mixture of targets is meant to deter the terrorist organizations at all levels.
In terms of this deterrence objective, it is not crucially important to Israel whether or not a missile fired from a helicopter is entirely accurate, or whether the target, and his bodyguards, escape. Ideally, the missile should hit these targets; but the overall purpose is to let Hamas know that the IDF is on the trail of terrorist group leaders. In addition, Israel would notch a success should Hamas men follow their organization's orders and walk only in narrow alleys disguised as women, or ride alone in cars and refrain from telephone calls.
Abbas has concentrated the brunt of his cease-fire talks with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and not with the Fatah organization; absurdly, he has been unable to arrange a truce with the very organization from which he emerged. Yasser Arafat's meddling is largely to blame for this lack of an agreement with Fatah. Should Abbas and Dahlan insist that Arafat relinquish control of key parts of the PA security and intelligence apparatus, the way might be paved for Abu Mazen to bring Fatah under control
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