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Last update - 22:13 18/01/2009
ANALYSIS / Israel declares victory in Gaza, but at what cost?
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hamas, Israel, Israel News 

Trying to hide a smile and a sense of self-satisfaction Prime Minister Ehud Olmert faced the cameras at the Defense Ministry and declared to the Israeli public, "We won." The Israel Defense Forces objectives for its operation in the Gaza Strip were "obtained in full." Hamas was "surprised and badly beaten," the government "made decisions responsibly and wisely," the IDF's performance was excellent and the southern home front "displayed resilience."



Olmert would have loved to have been able to say the same thing back in 2006, at the end of the Second Lebanon War. But then he had to confront a disappointed and outraged public calling for an inquiry into the government's handling of the war. The Gaza operation was undoubtedly intended to redeem Olmert, and will be used as a springboard for a comeback - if he avoids conviction on any of the charges pending against him.
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Israel's military achievement in the fighting was aided by prior preparation and the creation of national and international legitimacy for the operation. The success was further assisted by the weakness of Hamas, in comparison to Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War, and the IDF's willingness to sustain losses that in the end were less than expected.

Israel succeeded in hurting Hamas and in creating an international awareness of the need to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the Gaza Strip, but not all the operation's objectives were accomplished. Rocket fire from the Strip into Israel continued throughout, and it will take a few weeks to determine whether they will stop. A humanitarian crisis in Gaza was not averted and it is not clear whether the likelihood of securing the release of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has increased.

Olmert finally accepted the suggestions of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, after a week of delays. Livni was the first to suggest a unilateral cease-fire. She also initiated the "agreement to prevent arms smuggling" that she signed with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, providing Israel with an excuse to scale back its operations in Gaza.

Barak was the progenitor of the two-phase truce: First a cease-fire is declared. If Hamas stops firing rockets then Israel pulls its forces out of the Gaza Strip. If rocket fire resumes then the IDF goes back in, this time with the international backing gained by having tried a truce.

Saturday's decision includes both Livni's unilateralism and Barak's two-phase strategy. Olmert and Barak attempted to present a common front yesterday, after their public disagreement last week. The prime minister said the defense minister was his "friend." In his speech Barak emphasized his military experience, stressing his relative advantage over Olmert and Livni.

But Hamas' gains cannot be ignored: It has won international legitimacy and sympathy, and its forces still control the Gaza Strip.

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      1.   Last paragraph is incorrect 01:01  |  John Bob Meister 18/01/09
      2.   ONLY international MUSLIM LEGITIMACY 01:03  |  Darryl 18/01/09
      3.   Israelis are becoming as blind as americans! 01:51  |  josé 18/01/09
      4.   Did Hamas really win legitimacy? 01:52  |  TimG 18/01/09
      5.   #5, what about Venezuela, Cuba, and millions of people in Europe 01:53  |  Ajay 18/01/09
      6.   Which international backing ? 01:55  |  Gilles 18/01/09
      7.   before and after 01:57  |  paulo2005 18/01/09
      8.   Typical Haratez BS piece 02:01  |  Ben 18/01/09
      9.   Benn - Is He for Real ? 02:02  |  Tod Zuckerman 18/01/09
      10.   All arabs Christians and Moslems are HAMAS 02:02  |  Abu Shadi 18/01/09
      11.   By the power structure of Hamas existing then its not over 02:03  |  Shepherd 18/01/09
      12.   Both sides lost 02:17  |  julie 18/01/09
      13.   Sorry ...Israel has won 02:17  |  ACohen 18/01/09
      14.   before the war I was anti-Hamas, now I support Hamas 100% 02:19  |  Turk 18/01/09
      15.   another stupid analysis 02:24  |  Avi 18/01/09
      16.   Victory...good luck..!! 02:31  |  Joe 18/01/09
      17.   ACohen... You`re wrong, unfortunately. 02:33  |  Sptizer 18/01/09
      18.   What victory? 02:34  |  Bob 18/01/09
      19.   The UN looks terrible for letting terrorists use UN facilities 02:39  |  Joe 18/01/09
      20.   to all fellow arabs: cut the crap, israel won big 02:40  |  walid 18/01/09
      21.   ACohen, Ontario 02:41  |  john and the TRUTH! 18/01/09
      22.   Hamas still standing 02:51  |  Truth 18/01/09
      23.   suggestion: Go Over Hamas` Heads 03:04  |  solomon 18/01/09
      24.   Bob 11 03:11  |  Ron 18/01/09
      25.   # 7 you are an idiot 03:12  |  rht 18/01/09
      26.   Not where it matters. 03:16  |  Dan 18/01/09
      27.   We Won!! 03:17  |  Mark 18/01/09
      28.   Cohen 04:30  |  to #13 18/01/09
      29.   Israeli Victory 04:38  |  Jim Rex 18/01/09
      30.   You LOST! again...... Akira Eldar and other people say on TV 04:43  |  john and the TRUTH! 18/01/09
      31.   Walid#20:My fellow Arab,clearly the crap is what you say 04:45  |  Westwell 18/01/09
      32.   ANOTHER SQUANDERED OPPORTUNITY 04:48  |  Joshua 18/01/09
      33.   Paulo of Portugal 04:58  |  Rambo 18/01/09
      34.   Wouldnt it be better 05:01  |  Ali Elachkar 18/01/09
      35.   Sympathy 05:01  |  Murtiaji 18/01/09
      36.   Abu Shadi.... 05:04  |  Maria 18/01/09
      37.   Hamas` Legitimacy? 05:26  |  Jeff Northridge 18/01/09
      38.   the only support the palestinians have is from Israel and only 05:29  |  Steve -nyc 18/01/09
      39.   rest well west well, you got it wrong nasrallah is still hiding 05:51  |  Jack 18/01/09
      40.   paolo2005, still remembers the Spanish inquisition 05:55  |  Steve 18/01/09
      41.   what exactly did you win? 06:07  |  Ena 18/01/09
      42.   TO Rambo # 33 06:08  |  Steve Beikirch 18/01/09
      43.   Deceit, hypocracy,immorality and hate loved Hamas for years. 06:10  |  David J Feiger 18/01/09
      44.   If winning means: 06:10  |  Joseph L. 18/01/09
      45.   Exactly!!! 06:12  |  Ena 18/01/09
      46.   this criminaly insane government belongs in a insane asylum 06:49  |  chaim schonbrun 18/01/09
      47.   It`s too earl y to stop 06:49  |  Kfier 18/01/09
      48.   Hamas hates Chritian Arabs and any non Muslims 06:55  |  David J Feiger 18/01/09
      49.   How can Israel win! 06:56  |  Maria 18/01/09
      50.   Hamas now has a choice. 06:56  |  Levi 18/01/09
      51.   To #45 but its ok 06:58  |  Levi 18/01/09
      52.   Victory in Gaza 07:05  |  Richard 18/01/09
      53.   I never voted for Hamas but now I will 07:13  |  Palestinian 18/01/09
      54.   Hamas has not won legitimacy; it has wounded itself 07:13  |  nacl 18/01/09
      55.   Hamas can keep on winning by... 07:13  |  Avrum 18/01/09
      56.   VICTORY - well done Israel Army. 07:16  |  AARON 18/01/09
      57.   WINNING? 07:16  |  TC 18/01/09
      58.   make up your minds !!!!! 07:20  |  Avrum 18/01/09
      59.   No sympathy for Hamas 07:21  |  Tim 18/01/09
      60.   War is not a long term solution 07:22  |  sam 18/01/09
      61.   Let go of the land 07:23  |  Francois Gasel 18/01/09
      62.   Some victory, victory over little defenseless children 07:49  |  Socialist 18/01/09
      63.   Hamas won condemnation and not sympathy .. 07:50  |  martin knopfman 18/01/09
      64.   Hey Israel haters, where is the big defet you were hoping for? 08:06  |  Dan 18/01/09
      65.   Of course, ...but what victory? 08:23  |  Switzerland 18/01/09
      66.   Hamas did not win international sympathy 08:30  |  Shalom Freedman 18/01/09
      67.   Hamas has not regained legitimacy 08:31  |  Tzfonit 18/01/09
      68.   Not done yet 08:33  |  Palestinian 18/01/09
      69.   Israel declares victory? 08:36  |  Natallie Durson 18/01/09
      70.   Personal View 08:38  |  Máté 18/01/09
      71.   isreal cant won in this war 08:44  |  Muhammed 18/01/09
      72.   Once again, it s not the public that has grown tired - it`s ... 08:45  |  Jean Van Daem 18/01/09
      73.   This is the first time I hate Israel 08:45  |  real Jordanian 18/01/09
      74.   I am tired of this 08:48  |  GB 18/01/09
      75.   Israel declares... 08:50  |  DT 18/01/09
      76.   Aluf Benn`s headliner 08:56  |  Carole 18/01/09
      77.   please explain the statement 09:05  |  aaron 18/01/09
      78.   Socialist, Rockets do not fall. They are fired. 09:27  |  Tzfonit 18/01/09
      79.   Mission Accomplished! 09:28  |  mike 18/01/09
      80.   Victory ? What Victory ? 09:38  |  Avi 18/01/09
      81.   ha ha ha which victory? 09:50  |  nasser 18/01/09
      82.   eye on the ball 09:53  |  just me 18/01/09
      83.   To Real Jordanian 09:56  |  Palestinian woman 18/01/09
      84.   costs 09:58  |  just me 18/01/09
      85.   The only thing you`ve won is hatred 10:00  |  BEN 18/01/09
      86.   the victory of hamas is ... 10:14  |  paul 18/01/09
      87.   to #48 Is this masochism, or what? 10:22  |  Robin 18/01/09
      88.   to no. 66 Mohammed/Israel cant win 10:23  |  NW 18/01/09
      89.   Are you for peace or war 10:43  |  Counter Argument 18/01/09
      90.   Muslims allways seem to win a war 11:40  |  Karl 18/01/09
      91.   what victory? 13:04  |  gb 18/01/09
      92.   hamas still standing 13:10  |  gb 18/01/09
      93.   #13 13:13  |  GB 18/01/09
      94.   Israeli victory-Jim 13:15  |  GB 18/01/09
      95.   Hamas will get stronger after 3 months only 13:21  |  hamuda 18/01/09
      96.   You lost again-response 13:21  |  GB 18/01/09
      97.   Walid #20 My fellow Arab... 13:28  |  gb 18/01/09
      98.   Hated by everyone 13:30  |  Luigi 18/01/09
      99.   A Great Work 13:32  |  Enrico 18/01/09
      100.   wouldn`t it be better 13:32  |  gb 18/01/09
      101.   sympathy 13:33  |  gb 18/01/09
      102.   only support pal have.. 13:36  |  gb 18/01/09
      103.   Did Hamas really win legitimacy? 13:36  |  Moly 18/01/09
      104.   What Victory--here is what Olmert said on 12/01/09 13:37  |  Jeff Northridge 18/01/09
      105.   winning? 14:22  |  gb 18/01/09
      106.   war is not 14:24  |  gb 18/01/09
      107.   War is Hell! 14:25  |  US CITIZEN 18/01/09
      108.   #99 Enrico You are so wrong 14:25  |  Joseph 18/01/09
      109.   "We will not end until Hamas STOPS FIRING ROCKETS" 14:31  |  Joshua 18/01/09
      110.   Durson`s video games on war 14:36  |  israeli citizen 18/01/09
      111.   VICTORY?!?!?! 14:37  |  Nagiha 18/01/09
      112.   #28 - Cohen 14:45  |  Sam 18/01/09
      113.   Where was Ahmed Dinajat and Bashar ??? 16:40  |  Andi 18/01/09
      114.   possible "war crimes" 21:09  |  Kris DeWeese 18/01/09
      115.   Jeff Northridge-what victory 21:13  |  Roo 18/01/09
      116.   ROO The siege is there because Hamas has a NO Peace ever agenda 21:36  |  PETER SM 18/01/09
      117.   We lost 00:21  |  Yaakov Hillel 19/01/09
      118.   107. War is hell! 00:35  |  Al 19/01/09
      119.   Mission accomplished - Victory at last 00:42  |  assaf 19/01/09
      120.   Israel lost!!!Hamas won!!!! 02:10  |  Maria 19/01/09
      121.   Which victory? 02:58  |  Yom Shamash 19/01/09
      122.   Costs of life 03:26  |  Fritz T. 19/01/09
      123.   What part of "designated terrorist" org 03:46  |  Lynn 19/01/09
      124.   Loosing the Paece Because You had to Act Tough 07:43  |  Mo 19/01/09
      125.   Who really won? 07:52  |  Mohamed ELmasry 19/01/09
      126.   Hamas is insane 16:08  |  yusuf 19/01/09
      127.   Lets be real Hamas 16:30  |  yusuf 19/01/09
     Read & React
    Bradley Burston: Mr. Obama, grant Hamas the freedom to fail
    Responses: 45
    David Grossman: Gaza success proves Israel is strong, not right
    Responses: 243
    A. Eldar: As Obama is sworn in, Israelis and Palestinians will be thinking 'no we can't'
    Responses: 40
    Report: Hamas leader says he never expected scale of IDF op in Gaza
    Responses: 37
    Editorial: Bush will be remembered as a friend of Israel, despite his mistakes
    Responses: 26


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