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Last update - 01:48 05/01/2009 Lull now By Haaretz Editorial Tags: israel, hamas, Gaza  French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Jerusalem today provides Israel with an exit ramp from the fighting against Hamas in Gaza. Sarkozy proposes declaring a lull in combat, which would test whether Hamas would agree to halt firing rockets. Israel would do well to respond affirmatively to the proposal, which protects its right to respond with force in the event the Palestinians continue firing from the Gaza Strip. The lull would also be a good opportunity to halt the ground operation and pull back the Israel Defense Forces to Israel proper. In its decision to deploy ground troops in the operation, Israel showed that it is not deterred from assuming risks to defend its citizens, and it proved that its army is not afraid of engaging "armed" Palestinians in combat. But it is difficult to understand the purpose of prolonging the ground operation, which is liable to end in a difficult entanglement and casualties. Israel embarked on Operation Cast Lead with the aim of stopping rocket and mortar fire on its territory, weakening Hamas and improving the security situation in the south. It is vital to preserve these goals and not get dragged into a futile pursuit of Hamas in an effort to topple its regime. Experience teaches that expanding the set of objectives complicates achieving them, turning a lightning-quick operation into a long war of attrition. The government and IDF succeeded in mustering domestic and international legitimacy to an extensive military operation against the rocket fire, and it would be a pity to risk that legitimacy if the fighting drags on "until Hamas waves a white flag." Advertisement It is in Israel's interest that Hamas, which has absorbed a blow, hold its fire and impose the lull on other organizations in the Strip as well. The IDF operation is designed to lend credibility to Israel's threats that it will not tolerate rocket fire on its sovereign territory. A few more days of fighting and hundreds more dead on the Palestinian side will not enhance Israeli deterrence; it will only undermine the political and moral basis of the operation. Sarkozy is a friendly leader who during his term in office has contributed to Israel's improved standing in Europe. Israel can return the favor for his support and bestow on him a diplomatic achievement if it adopts his initiative for a lull in the fighting and declares its readiness to begin immediate negotiations on a new, stable security arrangement in the Gaza Strip. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Haute advice Sarkozy tells Peres IDF Gaza op does not strengthen Abbas. W speaks Bush says Israel has right to protect itself against Gaza attacks.

Read & React Bradley Burston / Gaza War Diary III: If Mexico shelled Texas, like Hamas shells Israel Responses: 103 Three IDF soldiers killed, one critically wounded by friendly fire in Gaza Responses: 31 Palestinians: 10 Gaza civilians killed by Israel Navy shelling Responses: 14 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip Responses: 22 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead Israeli soldiers Responses: 51 More Headlines 17:11 40 Palestinians killed in IDF strike on UN school 17:30 Olmert to Haaretz: The sooner Israel can end its Gaza offensive, the better 17:45 Sixth Israeli soldier killed in ground op, as IDF closes in on Gaza cities 17:38 Egypt urges Syria-based Hamas leadership to accept Gaza truce 14:43 'Iran pledged that Hezbollah won't respond to Gaza op' 14:59 Hospitalized but defiant, Israeli soldiers eager to return to Gaza battle 16:21 Gaza rocket hits Gedera, 30km from Tel Aviv; baby lightly hurt 17:12 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead soldiers 14:37 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 17:07 Jewish, Arab students clash over Gaza offensive in Jerusalem, Haifa 13:06 ANALYSIS / The unspoken goal of bringing down Hamas in Gaza 13:40 Israeli general: Never knew I was evacuating my wounded soldier son from Gaza 08:58 The IDF's Golani Brigade: Always first on the scene at the front line 13:00 Burning car rams synagogue in southwest France 13:46 Egypt bars doctors from entering Gaza Strip 05:44 Hamas puts Gazans in danger by drawing IDF into urban warfare 08:37 India PM: Pakistani officials must have backed Mumbai attack 18:21 PICTURE GALLERY / Gaza incursion sparks protests around world Previous Editions Select Day 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

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