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Last update - 17:55 11/01/2009 ANALYSIS / Synching IDF and government over Gaza By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Gaza, IDF Israel Defense Forces officers refrained from criticizing the executive branch Saturday over its lack of decision concerning the future of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip. This silence was a direct lesson learned from the Second Lebanon War. Yet senior army officials could not entirely conceal their concern that the indecisiveness may cost Israel dearly. Advertisement "The army cannot go on like this forever," former National Security Council head, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Giora Eiland, said. "We need to reach a decision: Either reach a cease-fire in two to three days, or start a big military operation that will take at least two weeks. We've been beating around the bush for a week, and we need to make a decision now." Eiland's anger and directness stems from his realization that the military and the government are out of synch. Soldiers have been in Gaza for eight days now. Given their small area of operations around Gaza City, their room for maneuvering is limited. IDF Chief Gabi Ashkenazi is constantly pushing battalion commanders to change positions and carry out targeted attacks to prevent the troops from becoming targets. IDF troops patrolling around the Jabalya refugee camp are facing militants using tactics similar to those used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, reservists called up after the operation began have completed training in an army base close to Gaza and are awaiting orders, but they cannot be held on standby forever. On the diplomatic front, the IDF was caught off guard by the UN's decision to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. Only hours before the decision was announced in New York, an army official in Israel covering international developments said the IDF still had time before diplomatic pressure curbed its scope of operations. The UN's decision is not binding, but it indicates the beginning of the end of the operation, especially with the swearing in of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama in nine days. Many Palestinians believe an Israeli victory is within reach, but this would require an assertive decision by Israel to topple Hamas. If the IDF were to take control of symbolic locations in the Gaza Strip, this would end Hamas' sovereignty over the coastal territory. Such real estate includes the Palestinian Presidential Palace, the Islamic University and the Sariya, a complex of buildings that Gaza's rulers have used as their headquarters over the past century. All are located in the affluent Rimal neighborhood in western Gaza city. The IDF's operations have so far focused on the city's eastern side. In the meantime, Hamas has been doing its best to hide its losses: Official statements issued by Hamas claim that the Islamic group has not suffered any casualties. However, the Palestinian Authority and the IDF believe some 300 members of the organization's military wing have been killed. Egypt believes the figure is even higher. But regardless of its losses, the military wing's objective remains survival and continuing the rocket fire on Israel. Much has been told about the workings of the IDF's chief rabbi, Brigadier General Avihai Ronsky, whose frequent visits to the frontlines involve religious conversations with soldiers. One group of fighters in the Givati Brigade received his blessing before entering the Gaza Strip. Such religious activity is not necessarily unusual, considering the high percentage of observant soldiers in combat units, but there have been many other alarming reports of rabbis handing soldiers recorded blessings in portable music players and giving soldiers Jewish prayer shawls. The question arises as to whether anyone is supervising the rabbis' message. Although no one has sprinkled soldiers with holy water or given them keys to heaven yet, we must make sure this is not happening by the next war. Related articles: Hamas claims it hit IAF base 27km from Tel Aviv EU said readying plan to restore Fatah-led PA rule over Gaza crossings Israel rejects UN truce resolution, says Gaza operation to continue 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.   Only government approved religous messages allowed.... 10:47  |  David Scott 11/01/09   2.   rabbis should not encourage the soldiers? 14:54  |  Yair 11/01/09   3.   Get on with it or get it over with 16:26  |  Mark Lincoln 11/01/09   4.   out-of-sync 16:32  |  michael cohen 11/01/09   5.   Oy vey, Jewish soldeirs want to pray! 00:27  |  Zev Davis 12/01/09   6.   Israel`s Tehran connection from other side - Very, very interesti 06:07  |  Tadek from Poland 12/01/09

Read & React Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate Responses: 42 Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza Responses: 30 IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza op Responses: 22 Gideon Levy: Israel's leaders will pay for the bloodshed in Gaza Responses: 22 Aluf Benn: Israel has a double standard when it comes to UN resolutions Responses: 22 More Headlines 11:24 Hamas reportedly rejects Egypt bid for long-term Gaza truce 12:07 Livni: No need for talk with Hamas, its words are meaningless 12:08 Gaza rocket strikes Ashkelon home, residents flee to shelter 12:09 IDF: Hamas rocket fire down 50% since start of Gaza offensive 08:25 ANALYSIS / Perhaps Israel should quit Gaza op while it's still ahead 09:55 On Day 17 of op, IDF bombs dozens of targets across Gaza 08:34 Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza 12:14 ANALYSIS / Why Israel should let foreign journalists into Gaza 11:28 Amira Hass / Gazans doing their best to avoid becoming death statistics 10:17 IDF clips of Gaza offensive are fourth biggest hit on YouTube 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 09:40 Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate 10:58 Gaza radio: IDF breaking into our signals to blame Hamas for Gaza war 10:16 Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, wins Golden Globe for best foreign film 11:33 U.S. Army: Probe into Israel Israel spy has nothing to do with religion 11:19 Despite IDF resistance, France urges European observers to monitor Gaza 22:37 WATCH: IDF uncovers booby-trapped school next to Gaza zoo 23:47 IDF begins deploying reservists into Gaza as part of ground op 22:11 WATCH: IDF drops leaflets over Gaza, warning of impending attack 19:27 Two Egyptian children among 4 wounded in IAF strike near Gaza 09:01 Israel arrests 700 people, mostly Arabs, in protests against IDF Gaza op 09:40 Report: Madonna receives death threats from Muslim extremists 05:55 Joe the Plumber trades his wrench for a reporter's notepad in Sderot 03:18 Dead Sea makes candidate list for 'seven natural wonders' 17:34 IDF soldiers come under fire at Syria border fence 21:48 Obama: Gaza war underscores need for immediate Mideast solution Previous Editions Select Day 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec

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