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The loss of demilitarization By Yuval Steinitz Tags: gaza, israel news, israel  Once the smoke subsides in the south, we will have to come to our senses and ask: What happened to us? How did Hamas acquire the capability to disrupt daily life in one-third of the country by forcing a million Israelis into bomb shelters, and what is the significance of that? The "territories for peace" school of thinking, which evolved in Israel after the Six-Day War, emphasized the principle of demilitarizing the areas that would be handed over, rendering them devoid of an army and weapons. The insistence on demilitarization stemmed from Israel's small size and from the fact that its defense is based on calling up the reserves in times of emergency. The demilitarization of Gaza and the West Bank is particularly essential due to their proximity to our population centers, air force bases and strategic installations. The concept of maintaining the demilitarization of the Palestinian Authority has long been based on a number of safeguards: agreements between us and the Palestinians; the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, which include an obligation to foil attempts to smuggle weapons from their territories; and a deterrent capability - that is, the Israel Defense Forces' ability to take control of territories in a military campaign. And yet, these safeguards collapsed like a house of cards. The agreements with the Palestinians fell apart when Hamas, which does not recognize the accords, forcibly took control of Gaza. Egypt's obligation to prevent smuggling has been revealed to be meaningless since even before the disengagement, and even more so since Israel and Egypt signed the wretched agreement known as "The Philadelphi Corridor Agreement" in 2005. Since then, the smuggling has grown exponentially. The Katyushas now being lobbed at the south came through this smuggling conduit, as did the mortar shells, antitank missiles and rifles used by Hamas. Israeli deterrence has also collapsed. As long as quiet was maintained, Israel refrained from responding militarily to the buildup of the arsenal of rockets in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement The entire essence of the "tahadiyeh [cease-fire] agreement" which Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak are so proud of, is "quiet in exchange for rockets." This was how Hamas interpreted the agreement from its inception. And this was how Olmert interpreted it upon its expiration, when the lull was exploited and Ashkelon, Ashdod and Be'er Sheva were brought within rocket range. Israel ultimately embarked on an offensive in Gaza, not because of the accumulation of rockets, but because they were fired. Thus, the message being conveyed to the other side is that as long as quiet is maintained, the concept of demilitarization can be violated and a stockpile of artillery can be accumulated. The collapse of demilitarization is liable to be repeated much more acutely in the coming years in both Gaza and the West Bank if Israel withdraws from the latter. In such an instance, Israel will turn into a state that ceases to defend itself because artillery and anti-aircraft threats near its major population centers and key military infrastructure will harm its ability to function in the event of a full-fledged war. Even the ability of forces in adjacent territories to disrupt daily life in the center of the country, as is currently being seen in the south, is enough to constitute a prolonged threat to the economy and the country's very survival. Claiming that Syria and Iran can launch a missile to anywhere in Israel, and that this negates the need for demilitarization in the West Bank and Gaza, is an insult to the intelligence. It is as if there is no difference between the shooting of a few missiles from afar and continuous artillery fire from close range. The unpleasant conclusion with respect to Gaza is that Israel must reassume control over the Philadelphi route since it has been made clear that only the IDF's physical presence can halt weapons smuggling. The conclusion regarding the West Bank is that continuing the diplomatic process in its present form is liable to lead to the establishment of an armed Palestinian state within a few years. Whoever ignores the breakdown of the demilitarization of Gaza and continues to adhere to the "territories in exchange for peace" formula is likely to find himself gambling on the state's very existence. The writer is a Likud Knesset member and former chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Bookmark to del.icio.us   From the bunker Hamas says Gaza won't break, victory over Israel is near. Banned Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections.   1.   demilitarization 10:44  |  ron 12/01/09   2.   Dilemma 21:38  |  Observer 12/01/09

Read & React Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate Responses: 102 Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza Responses: 72 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: 55 Aluf Benn: Israel has a double standard when it comes to UN resolutions Responses: 42 More Headlines 23:21 IDF soldier seriously hurt in Gaza, possibly by friendly fire 01:03 Haniyeh: Hamas is willing to negotiate on Gaza cease-fire 00:54 Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections 19:35 Bush: Hamas must stop rocket fire if it wants Gaza truce 17:40 UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel over Gaza op 23:01 IDF reservist refuses to fight in Gaza over civilian deaths 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 22:59 Gaza rocket strikes Ashkelon home, residents flee to shelter 21:42 Israel voices concern over anti-Semitic attacks in Europe 18:43 Olmert: Gaza war won't end until rockets and smuggling stop 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 13:50 ANALYSIS / Israel's victories in Gaza make up for its failures in Lebanon Previous Editions Select Day 12 jan 11 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec

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