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Last update - 01:15 29/12/2008 Defend, don't invade By Haaretz Editorial Tags: israel, israel news, hamas  "We have no goals of occupation," declared then-defense minister Moshe Dayan in June 1967 on the eve of the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. There may have been no such goals, but occupation there certainly was - and it is still exacting a price four decades later. The current Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza began with air strikes. In its first two days, there have been no reports of ground troops entering the Strip. But appetite is liable to overcome common sense and this tendency must be fought. Israel must adhere to the outline of Operation Cast Lead thus far, eschewing any major invasion that will end in occupation, a military administration and months (if not years) of fighting the local forces who will inevitably oppose the occupiers. The current heads of the defense establishment took over last year from those who lost their lofty positions due to the Second Lebanon War - Ehud Barak from Amir Peretz and Gabi Ashkenazi from Dan Halutz. And their desire to avoid repeating their predecessors' mistakes is readily apparent. One of the charges made against the conduct of the Lebanon war was the slowness with which the ground operation was prepared and executed. In the two years since then, both IDF officers and the politicians above them have spoken about improving Israel's capabilities in conducting land maneuvers - in other words, its ability to send infantry, armor and other ground-based forces into a war. But despite the temptation to prove that this effort has borne fruit, Gaza must not be viewed as a makeup for Lebanon. The operation's limited goals, as described by both the decision-makers and planners, do not justify getting entangled in a ground operation. Advertisement In order to defend Israel's citizens at a time when the "Gaza envelope" is expanding from Sderot, the western Negev and Ashkelon to Ashdod, Yavneh, Kiryat Gat and other towns to the west and north, military force should be employed proportionately - in part so that the operation's goals will not become so ambitious as to be impossible to achieve. Reestablishing the case-fire on better terms and with better supervision is a reasonable goal. Toppling the Hamas regime, or eradicating the last rocket factory where the last Hamas member is making the last Qassam rocket, are not reasonable goals, in part because they are unachievable without a prolonged presence on the ground in Gaza. Over the last few years the terrorist organizations in the Strip - Hamas, Islamic Jihad and smaller groups - have been preparing to welcome the IDF with tunnels, bombs, ambushes and antitank missiles. Combat in densely populated urban areas is liable to result in numerous IDF casualties and will inevitably harm the civilian population in whose midst the clashes will take place. It could be that momentary operational opportunities will justify selective deployment of special forces, but executing any plan that involves operating deep inside Gaza and encompasses brigades and divisions would violate the logic of a limited operation. The initial aerial assault should lead to a diplomatic move whose goal is a genuine cessation of fire and the return of Gilad Shalit, without any winking or excuses by Hamas. Israel is entitled to exercise its right to self-defense, including via offensive measures. But it must not overreach on the ground. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iranian Jews protest Members of Tehran's small Jewish community demonstrate against IDF operation in Gaza. Missile's view Watch Israel's attack on Gaza from the perspective of the missile.   1.   Well reasoned 09:57  |  Bruce 29/12/08   2.   Cause and Effect 11:36  |  Fred 29/12/08   3.   Way Out for Israel! 08:45  |  Monitor 29/12/08   4.   #2 on Cause and Effect 23:13  |  Rich 29/12/08   5.   Only when Arb societies change there will be Peace, 00:32  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/12/08   6.   Tapuach is no more occupied than Tel Aviv 08:50  |  Ephraim 30/12/08

Read & React Cabinet debating 48-hour Gaza truce as international pressure grows Responses: 34 Gaza rocket strikes school in Be'er Sheva Responses: 28 ANALYSIS / Hamas winning battle of public opinion in Arab world Responses: 5 Gideon Levy: Are Israel's pilots callous and blind to Gaza's suffering? Responses: 1 Chicago synagogue firebombed; police probe possible link to Gaza violence Responses: 42 More Headlines 09:34 Gaza rocket strikes school in Be'er Sheva 09:48 French proposal for 48-hour Gaza truce 'not realistic,' Israel says 07:25 Air strikes in Gaza continue as IDF readies for ground push 09:54 ANALYSIS / Hamas racks up its first diplomatic victory in Gaza campaign 03:57 Hundreds across U.S. protest Gaza operation 04:33 Fatah loyalists: Gaza op is 'Allah's revenge' for Hamas actions 00:11 Ex-U.S. Army engineer Kadish pleads guilty to spying for Israel 22:21 WATCH: Israel's attack on Gaza from the missiles' viewpoint 16:50 IN PICTURES / Firestorm over Gaza 02:09 Throngs at Ashdod funeral mark 'war against Israeli normalcy' 02:17 Mayor of rocket-battered Netivot calls for talks with Hamas 06:01 With every siren, Sderot boy improves shrapnel collection 06:36 Eichmann trial transcripts now available on Justice Ministry Web site 02:59 Iranian government raids office of Nobel Peace Prize laureate 03:22 Criminal probe opened against rabbis who signed anti-Arab labor ads Previous Editions Select Day 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec

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