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Last update - 19:41 28/12/2008
ANALYSIS / Let's hope this time we'll know when to stop
By Yossi Sarid
Tags: Israel, Gaza, Hamas 

The other shoe dropped Saturday with full force, as if Hamas had asked for the shoe to be sent its way. Now we need to start thinking about the end game, an end which will not be cut and dry as we would like. In wars, the beginnings are usually the easy part, and only later do they become dicey. I can only hope that this time, for a change, we will know when to stop.

This war must be described from the get-go as a war "to be on the safe side," rather than of necessity, and it is still unclear whether the last missile fired will be fired by us or by them.

There is also no use in expecting international understanding to last, despite the hints sent our way to that effect recently from both near and far. A single strike will not be condemned, and if so then only as lip service, but ten strikes will be - and harshly.
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The world shows very little patience for the stronger side, and Israel is certainly that. Forbearance will quickly become exhausted, not only externally but internally as well. It is therefore not recommended to rely on the declarations of public servants and rank-and-file civilians who swear by "letting the IDF win," giving it all the time in the world, and dealing with the Gaza problem "once and for all."

It is best not to deliver too many speeches. The more speeches are given, the more illusions and disappointment arise, forcing the war to become drawn out and lose its purpose.

Speeches have a tendency to identify goals that are by nature unreachable: phrases like "destroying the Hamas government" (which is actually likely to be strengthened) or about its "infrastructure" (which is cloaked in ambiguity - does that mean water and electricity, or also food and medicine?) These foggy declarations only lead us into ever more complicated territory.

It is important that this much is understood from the start - no matter what happens in this war, the crossings into Gaza must open.

A million and a half human beings, most of them downcast and desperate refugees, live in the conditions of a giant jail, fertile ground for another round of bloodletting.

The fact that Hamas may have gone too far with its rockets is not the justification of the Israeli policy for the past few decades, for which it justly merits an Iraqi shoe to the face.

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      1.   "Now we need to start thinking about the end game... 03:00  |  Scheherazade 28/12/08
      2.   Leftist dreamer 03:01  |  A Nice Fellow 28/12/08
      3.   outside israel 04:14  |  American 28/12/08
      4.   We stop when Hamas is no more 04:49  |  Gee 28/12/08
      5.   When to stop? 04:49  |  Roberto 28/12/08
      6.   "The world shows very little patience for the stronger side? Like 04:51  |  I 28/12/08
      7.   We can always count on sarid and the leftists 05:29  |  Arie 28/12/08
      8.   Same old Sarid 06:28  |  howiej 28/12/08
      9.   When To Stop 06:45  |  Jeff Northridge 28/12/08
      10.   Yossi, since you favor one strike, then maybe use the BIG ONE 07:02  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/12/08
      11.   How about "Never", is "Never" good for you? 07:04  |  UsedToPostHere 28/12/08
      12.   Sarid... You`re defeatist attitude is what stopped Israel from... 07:08  |  Edward 28/12/08
      13.   o.k. 07:59  |  susanna/shoshana 28/12/08
      14.   CONTINUE WAR UNTIL GAZA IS JEWISH AGAIN! SARID, STOP DEMORALIZING 08:15  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 28/12/08
      15.   israel creates; and israel destroys 09:03  |  eric 28/12/08
      16.   A nation of destruction. 09:29  |  Palestinian Brit 28/12/08
      17.   Does Yossi Sarid know when to stop calling for stop? 09:53  |  Israeli citizen 28/12/08
      18.   We`ll KNOW WHEN TO STOP.....WHEN GAZA GLOWS IN THE DARK !!!! 10:53  |  Rich 28/12/08
      19.   #15 eric and remorse at israel winning instead 11:21  |  victor hardman 28/12/08
      20.   #16 palestine brit lives in vacuum of his own making 11:24  |  victor hardman 28/12/08
      21.   Dedicate your life 11:24  |  Scooter McGruder 28/12/08
      22.   Gee, you disgust me 12:00  |  Marilyn 28/12/08
      23.   I hope so 12:05  |  KUTW 28/12/08
      24.   finish the job 12:41  |  Dan 28/12/08
      25.   Yosi Sarid when we kill the 15,000 Hamas men in Gaza we stop!! 15:27  |  arthur 28/12/08
      26.   Lets hope we dont LOSE this time 15:35  |  Avi 28/12/08
      27.   #3 oh really 19:30  |  American 2 28/12/08
      28.   The end game 22:26  |  Otto Rand 28/12/08
      29.   Illusions of peace 22:44  |  Ray Smith 28/12/08
      30.   Gaza 23:45  |  L 28/12/08
      31.   # 19 winning "what", victor? 05:27  |  eric 29/12/08
      32.   So sad... 09:27  |  Nic 29/12/08
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