Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 12, 2009 Tevet 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:26 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  88
ANALYSIS / IDF sending Hamas a message: Now it's personal
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent

Advertisement
Gazans have been asking Haaretz why Israel is hitting Hamas foot soldiers, empty buildings and innocent civilians rather than the leadership. They see this as proof of Israel's inability to really deal with Hamas. Ghayan's killing shows that Israel is no longer hesitating. The Hamas leader in Gaza, Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, his government and certainly Hamas military leaders such as Ahmed Jabri know they have good reason to stay in hiding.

The assassination in the spring of 2004 of Abdel Aziz Rantisi and Ahmed Yassin was the main factor behind the Hamas decision to suspend suicide bombings and limit friction with Israel.

But these killings also increased sympathy for Hamas in Gaza and led to its electoral win two years later. In the same way, Hamas television quickly made use of Thursday's incident, repeatedly showing footage of Ghayan's headless body.

Meanwhile, the widely anticipated ground offensive was delayed again Thursday for operational reasons and because Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was in Paris to meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy. France is taking advantage of the slow U.S. response to play a central role in efforts to reach a cease-fire.

Almost a week into the war it now seems clear that Israel missed a golden opportunity in the first or second day to end the operation as a reprisal action only. The government says it is giving the IDF a chance to achieve the maximum, but in reality the air strikes were to have given the government time to come up with an exit strategy. That did not happen. As a result, Hamas is rallying somewhat while Israel is sliding toward a a ground operation that holds many risks.

The battle is being conducted in the shadow of a looming, election-eve political crisis, with tensions especially high between Livni and Labor Party chairman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The latter gained points early in the operation but in the past two days his mood seems to have soured, following media criticism after it was leaked that he was willing to consider a cease-fire before a ground offensive.

The Southern Command expects that a ground offensive will cause Israeli casualties but achieve its aims of increasing the direct threat against Hamas. However, the delays in the start of the ground operation are taking their toll.

Unlike the Second Lebanon War, the ground war in the Gaza Strip will be waged in densely populated urban areas. The civilian population in Lebanon fled during the fighting. In the Gaza Strip, however, there is nowhere to run but the beach and the Egyptian border, and many civilian casualties can be expected.

Related articles:
  • IDF recommends major, but brief Gaza ground offensive
  • Livni: Gaza truce would give Hamas legitimacy
  • IAF strike in Gaza kills senior Hamas political-military liaison
  • Barrage of Gaza rockets strikes Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod
  • Ari Shavit / Israelis who blame Israel are not helping Gazans
  • Poll: Most Israelis support continuing Gaza military op
  • Israel Harel / Like in Lebanon, Israel blinked first in Gaza
  • Amira Hass / Thousands of Gazans near Rafah displaced by IAF bombing of tunnels
  • Olmert: Israel has no interest in a prolonged war in Gaza
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    IDF warns Gazans
    The IDF is making every effort to prevent civilian deaths by warning of impending attacks.
    Pro-Israel rallies
    Thousands attend pro-Israel rallies across Europe, N.Y.
      1.   Give us a break 04:21  |  Mark Lincoln 02/01/09
      2.   PUT A BOUNTY ON HANIYEH`S HEAD 04:24  |  Enough is enough 02/01/09
      3.   "Now it`s personal"=meaningless phrase 04:24  |  dyinglikeflies 02/01/09
      4.   now 04:25  |  Tom 02/01/09
      5.   Bye bye, Ghayan.... 04:27  |  GO-IDF 02/01/09
      6.   Persian TARSIER 04:30  |  Taharoon 02/01/09
      7.   HAMAS used expression "..till last drop of blood". BLOOD of HAMAS 04:33  |  Vittorio 02/01/09
      8.   HJANIYEH should be in the list too! Free Gilad Shalit Immediately 04:36  |  Vittorio 02/01/09
      9.   assassination?? 04:55  |  Bretware 02/01/09
      10.   Scrap the ground operation, bring international monitors... 05:12  |  Smadar 02/01/09
      11.   it`s personal INDEED 05:29  |  Mike USA 02/01/09
      12.   more serious than papers are leading on 05:34  |  Mark 02/01/09
      13.   Conditions for cease-fire 05:36  |  Gee 02/01/09
      14.   War criminals 06:21  |  Ben 02/01/09
      15.   gaza 06:21  |  jake 02/01/09
      16.   The Headless Terrorist Is No More 06:24  |  Jeff Northridge 02/01/09
      17.   MARK Lincoln.Destroying enemy infrastructure is going well 06:25  |  PETER SM 02/01/09
      18.   It`s not personal. It`s necessary. 06:29  |  Reddie 02/01/09
      19.   Its now time to finish off Hamas and end this once and for all 07:00  |  General Barak 02/01/09
      20.   Olmert,Barak,& Livni are going to screw this war up 07:15  |  Livin In Rishon 02/01/09
      21.   Mark #12....Take your meds. 07:34  |  Michael Matters 02/01/09
      22.   Kol Hakavod Israel! 08:12  |  Yosemite 02/01/09
      23.   Mark Lincoln 08:54  |  Magpie 02/01/09
      24.   kidding right? 09:07  |  jake 02/01/09
      25.   Israel, or the logic of killing 1000 "terrorists"...... 10:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/01/09
      26.   Personal ? is this a joke? 10:29  |  Orao Stranka. 02/01/09
      27.   Magpie 10:30  |  Marcos 02/01/09
      28.   #12 Mark - rockets on Dimona? 10:36  |  Manny Goldstein 02/01/09
      29.   Gaza unfair war 10:48  |  Aboo nabil 02/01/09
      30.   answer to gazans 10:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/01/09
      31.   Finaly 10:58  |  Aboo nabil 02/01/09
      32.   NOW, IT IS TIME FOR A GROUND ASSAULT 11:25  |  indrajaya 02/01/09
      33.   Aboo Nabil 11:27  |  AlBoulbol 02/01/09
      34.   Yet another misstep by Israel 17:10  |  David Hartman 02/01/09
      35.   Swiss Dumkopf makes excuses for terrorists 17:13  |  Joe Frazier 02/01/09
      36.   NO NEED FOR GROUND OPERATION !!! 17:21  |  Avrum 02/01/09
      37.   NO NEED FOR GROUND INVASION 18:30  |  JO 02/01/09
      38.   as long as olmert and barak are leading israel 18:47  |  chaim 02/01/09
      39.   hypocrisy hamas 19:13  |  ffff 02/01/09
      40.   Gaza will win 19:41  |  john 02/01/09
      41.   Jeff Northridge 19:45  |  Jim 02/01/09
      42.   Loose-Loose Proposition 19:46  |  Alex 02/01/09
      43.   Jeff Northridge #16 celebrating death of women and kids 19:54  |  yasmine 02/01/09
      44.   Leaders or Terrorists 20:51  |  Moshe 02/01/09
      45.   Mosques and Synaguoges 23:09  |  Hassoun 02/01/09
      46.   yasmine 23:12  |  alan 02/01/09
      47.   Alex #42 23:29  |  Spellcheck 02/01/09
      48.   To: Yasmine (second attempt) 23:39  |  Angel 02/01/09
      49.   Yasmine / post to Jeff Northridge 23:42  |  Avrum 02/01/09
      50.   shalom 23:43  |  abdou fall 02/01/09
      51.   alan in toronto 23:44  |  yasmine 02/01/09
      52.   Hassoun 44 - nonsense 23:53  |  ChanahS 02/01/09
      53.   #1 Lincoln 23:55  |  * BEN JABO 02/01/09
      54.   Mosques and Synagogues 00:14  |  JP 03/01/09
      55.   yasmine 01:02  |  Ali Boobalickin 03/01/09
      56.   Hamas delenda est 01:44  |  Michael J 03/01/09
      57.   personal message 02:02  |  Youssef 03/01/09
      58.   Unequal ? 03:21  |  David 03/01/09
      59.   for Gee of Zikron Yaakov 03:26  |  David 03/01/09
      60.   Ground forces 03:31  |  Samk 03/01/09
      61.   yasmine # 43 Nobody Except Terrorists Celebrate Civilian Deaths 04:14  |  Jeff Northridge 03/01/09
      62.   David so, the IDF has NOT killed hundreds of civilians 04:38  |  Lynn 03/01/09
      63.   Khaled Mash`al 07:39  |  K almas 03/01/09
      64.   We can?t live under HAMAS ROKETS 10:06  |  Natasha 03/01/09
      65.   More maneuver is needed by the Generals-3rd try 10:38  |  Samar 03/01/09
      66.   re: Smadar 10:39  |  UsedToPostHere 03/01/09
      67.   Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent: ANALYSIS / 11:08  |  ganseknakker 03/01/09
      68.   Hamas can`t control the rocket firing into Israel, 12:30  |  Susanna/Shoshana 03/01/09
      69.   Swiss (Dino) #25 The ME or the rest of the World 13:09  |  Gil 03/01/09
      70.   Swiss what are you smoking 13:11  |  Aby 03/01/09
      71.   IDF killing civilians by the score 15:35  |  Roo 03/01/09
      72.   The way to defeat Hamas is Israel treating Abbas seriously. 16:03  |  Michael 03/01/09
      73.   its all about history! 19:06  |  Paul 03/01/09
      74.   re: Michael 19:33  |  UsedToPostHere 03/01/09
      75.   What happened to becoming a GLORIOUS SHAHEED?? 19:40  |  Kenny 03/01/09
      76.   Fight never brings peace but revenge 23:11  |  FAZIL 03/01/09
      77.   #71 03:11  |  Wog 04/01/09
      78.   Who`s the terrorist? 05:47  |  Peter 04/01/09
      79.   go further 06:10  |  David 04/01/09
      80.   Hamas 10:56  |  dave 04/01/09
      81.   Thks Bush for paralyzing the Security Council & protect the truth 13:31  |  Akram Zekaria 04/01/09
      82.   end hamas 14:06  |  michael m 04/01/09
      83.   to history 14:47  |  Barqawi 04/01/09
      84.   PETER .TEN thousand missiles is war.Arabs opting for war 20:04  |  PETER SM 04/01/09
      85.   "usedtoposthere" - Are you aware of reality? 07:30  |  Michael Hess 05/01/09
      86.   #85 08:25  |  Rab Burns 05/01/09
      87.   #85 Michael Hess - 1701 didn`t quite work 18:14  |  *BEN JABO 07/01/09
      88.   re: Michael Hess 18:18  |  UsedToPostHere 07/01/09
     Read & React
    Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate
    Responses: 91
    Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza
    Responses: 59
    IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza op
    Responses: 28
    Gideon Levy: Israel's leaders will pay for the bloodshed in Gaza
    Responses: 13
    Aluf Benn: Israel has a double standard when it comes to UN resolutions
    Responses: 38


    More Headlines
    19:07 Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections
    18:02 Bush: Hamas must stop rocket fire if it wants Gaza truce
    17:25 IDF finds Hamas arms stockpile in raid on Gaza mosque
    17:40 UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel over Gaza op
    18:11 IDF reservist refuses to fight in Gaza over civilian deaths
    11:24 Hamas reportedly rejects Egypt bid for long-term Gaza truce
    18:44 Gaza rocket strikes Ashkelon home, residents flee to shelter
    16:55 Gaza War Diary IV - Can people die of ambivalence?
    11:28 Amira Hass / Gazans doing their best to avoid becoming death statistics
    18:20 Peres: The IDF has never been better trained, as sophisticated
    18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email
    14:17 Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza
    18:43 Olmert: Gaza war won't end until rockets and smuggling stop
    12:09 IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza offensive
    14:05 Immigration officials: Gaza op hasn`t deterred infiltration of migrants from Egypt
    13:12 France vows to punish assailants who hurled firebombs at Paris synagogue
    15:44 Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, wins Golden Globe for best foreign film
    13:50 ANALYSIS / Israel's victories in Gaza make up for its failures in Lebanon
    15:58 Peace activists with medical supplies set sail from Cyprus for Gaza
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
    Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved
    ";path=/"; } } function popupMain() { adverpopup("BannerArticleHaaretzEn"); }