Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 26, 2009 Shvat 1, 5769 | | Israel Time: 16:42 (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
Last update - 03:24 25/01/2009
The war that wasn't
By Reuven Pedatzur
Tags: israel news, hamas, IDF, gaza

It is very dangerous for the Israel Defense Forces to believe it won the war when there was no war. The expressions of satisfaction and praise for the war's outcome voiced by the army's top brass may lead the IDF to draw the wrong conclusions. Contrary to the image portrayed by reports in the Israeli media - asserting that the IDF's performance in the war was near-perfect and that the army adopted the lessons from the Second Lebanon War - in reality, not a single battle was fought during the 22 days of fighting.

The Hamas fighters did not even try to stop the IDF soldiers who entered the Strip, opting to withdraw without a fight. The challenge the soldiers were faced with in their advance on Gaza City was not - as senior command had said prior to the operation - hand-to-hand combat with determined fighters, armed to the teeth and willing to die, but the need to find booby traps and explosives, and occasionally to neutralize individual snipers as well. This is not war. It is not even a real battle.

There is nothing in common between the sort of combat adopted by the IDF during Operation Cast Lead and what happened in the battles of the Second Lebanon War. Therefore, the argument that the Gaza fighting proves that the IDF has adopted the lessons of that war lacks foundation. True, the soldiers were better equipped, the commanders were in the field and not stuck behind plasma screens, and the intelligence was a lot better than in 2006. But all this does not alter the fact that what happened in the Strip was essentially a military operation characterized by advancing forces in hostile territory, densely populated by civilians, without facing a military force.
Advertisement
At the start of the ground offensive, senior command decided to avoid endangering the lives of soldiers, even at the price of seriously harming the civilian population. This is why the IDF made use of massive force during its advance in the Strip. As a Golani brigade commander explained, if there is any concern that a house is booby-trapped, even if it is filled with civilians, it should be targeted and hit, to ensure that it is not mined - only then should it be approached. Without going into the moral aspects, such fighting tactics explain why there were no instances in which there was a need to assault homes where Hamas fighters were holed up.

Other outcomes of this fighting method were the extensive damage and the deaths of many civilians. According to IDF statistics, almost two thirds of Palestinians killed were civilians. Moreover, even though it was one of the war's aims, hardly any Hamas fighters were taken prisoner, and the holding center set up to imprison them remained almost empty.

The Israel Air Force, too, received a great deal of praise. The media asserted that during Cast Lead it proved that it is the world's best air force. While the IAF's quality is beyond dispute, it would be a serious mistake to bolster such a claim on the basis of its activity in the Gaza Strip. The planes operated in an environment free of air defenses, enjoying complete aerial superiority. A flight over the Strip and a mostly "accurate" bombing run, which can be dropped from a relatively short range, is not a complicated mission. The flights over Gaza are like test flights, which every pilot does dozens of times a year.

The IDF should relate to its performance in Operation Cast Lead with the necessary humility and proportionality. There was no war there.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Disturbing trend
Jewish Agency says Anti-Semitic acts in Jan. 2009 triple last year's records.
After the war
IDF gains in Gaza have softened Israel's stance on Shalit deal.
  1.   The war proved the Israeli army are cowards 04:30  |  BIG 25/01/09
  2.   BIG, the cowards are the one shooting grads and hiding in houses 05:50  |  Dan 25/01/09
  3.   Victory is Ours 09:44  |  PeterJo 25/01/09
  4.   humility and proportionality 09:46  |  rm 25/01/09
  5.   Yes it was no war, it was shooting fish in a barrel 10:03  |  Myles 25/01/09
  6.   Call This War? 10:11  |  Roger 25/01/09
  7.   no need to win wars 10:26  |  igal azuelos 25/01/09
  8.   Israel`s excuse for shelling UN buildings... 10:41  |  Silvienne 25/01/09
  9.   Viva Pedatzur 10:57  |  Ussishkin 25/01/09
  10.   The War that wan`t 11:39  |  Claire 25/01/09
  11.   It is a victory 11:57  |  haim 25/01/09
  12.   The need for honesty with the Israeli people 12:10  |  Manny Goldstein 25/01/09
  13.   wrong cliam 12:11  |  Uri 25/01/09
  14.   "The War" 12:16  |  Chayim 25/01/09
  15.   Viva Pedatzur 12:17  |  Ussishkin 25/01/09
  16.   The Israeli soul, finally coming to the conclusion that 12:25  |  Andreas 25/01/09
  17.   Deciding the winner will take some time. 12:32  |  Natallie Durson 25/01/09
  18.   Who cares? As long as they stopped the rockets 12:50  |  Simha 25/01/09
  19.   Hamas simply fled and hid under their kids beds 12:56  |  Sir Valiant 25/01/09
  20.   Israel won--Bit Time! 12:58  |  US CITIZEN 25/01/09
  21.   There was neither honour nor victory for Israel in Gaza 13:16  |  Ivar 25/01/09
  22.   It needed doing 13:47  |  Giora 25/01/09
  23.   following fathers step 14:21  |  anil 25/01/09
  24.   to #9 haim 14:45  |  El_Justiciero 25/01/09
  25.   9 haim 14:51  |  Esoj Oicram 25/01/09
  26.   no win 15:07  |  t brooke 25/01/09
  27.   Honor 15:18  |  Jim 25/01/09
  28.   It was about deterance and sending a message 16:05  |  pt 25/01/09
  29.   That`s What Urban Guerrilla Warfare Looks Like 16:15  |  Jeff Northridge 25/01/09
  30.   Where are the Hamas leaders? 16:35  |  Lola 25/01/09
  31.   No Victory Without Word of God 17:28  |  Marie Devine 25/01/09
  32.   Just once......... 17:39  |  j.silence 25/01/09
  33.   #13 nutilly . Where is the leadership????? 17:48  |  rob 25/01/09
  34.   new levels of hatred 18:04  |  julie 25/01/09
  35.   Hamas`s intellect.To declar or to get? 18:22  |  Boris 25/01/09
  36.   #1 small 19:01  |  Moshe 25/01/09
  37.   #32 - They have! 20:20  |  Brendan 25/01/09
  38.   Yes Isreal won, relax... 20:48  |  terry 25/01/09
  39.   Sporadic ground battles DID take place 21:41  |  Michael Watherstone 25/01/09
  40.   A misunderstanding of warfare 21:49  |  Mark Lincoln 25/01/09
  41.   Pdetzur 22:32  |  bany 25/01/09
  42.   Big.....And Stupid?? 22:49  |  Rambo 25/01/09
  43.   No 38 Who fought? 22:51  |  Ussishkin 25/01/09
  44.   Michael Watherstone Military Expert 22:54  |  Rambo 25/01/09
  45.   So, Michael Watherstone 22:57  |  hollingsworth 25/01/09
  46.   to #16 Andreas... 23:04  |  Colin Wright 25/01/09
  47.   The War as it shoud be inthe future 23:32  |  Andrew 25/01/09
  48.   #21 Ivar 23:40  |  Moshe 25/01/09
  49.   The Israeli army and "mother rachael." 23:47  |  Maureen Ann 25/01/09
  50.   Glad you got to say it Mr. Pedazur 00:05  |  sh 26/01/09
  51.   #8 Silvienne 01:37  |  Moshe 26/01/09
  52.   nit picking 01:42  |  Mark Lincoln 26/01/09
  53.   Hamas Cowards Hid Dressed As Women 01:55  |  Baruch Gold 26/01/09
  54.   IDF Victory Achieved More Than Reported 02:01  |  Baruch Gold 26/01/09
  55.   BIG- I agree with you 02:18  |  Normal Jew 26/01/09
  56.   To 32 They did in October 1973 02:28  |  Tousands of dead IDF 26/01/09
  57.   Undefended 02:31  |  Concerned Jew 26/01/09
  58.   Maybe the criticism is harsh 06:37  |  M Watherstone 26/01/09
  59.   WE ARE ALLOWED TO POINT OUT N O W 13:26  |  H.H.M 26/01/09
 Read & React
Livni: Israel should strike Hamas again to halt arms smuggling
Responses: 59
Egypt to Hamas: Take Gaza truce before Netanyahu is voted PM
Responses: 54
Netanyahu: Likud-led government wouldn't build new settlements
Responses: 49
Akiva Eldar: Saudi plan offers Israel united front with Arab states against Iran
Responses: 29
IDF rabbinate publication during Gaza war: We will show no mercy on the cruel
Responses: 39


More Headlines
15:07 Livni: Obama can use Gaza op success to alter Mideast reality
15:41 Egypt to Hamas: Take Gaza truce before Netanyahu is voted PM
16:02 Olmert eulogizes 'exceptional' Ultra-Orthodox MK Ravitz
11:24 Iran MPs plan Gaza visit to praise Hamas resistance against 'Zionist offensive'
12:54 Sky News joins BBC in refusing to air Gaza fundraiser
15:43 Lecturers say IDF officer who justified Gaza strikes should not teach law
10:14 Nine held for allegedly attacking Israeli Arabs in Upper Nazareth
15:18 WATCH: Israeli company invents radiation-free lung imaging system
13:17 IDF rabbinate publication during Gaza war: We will show no mercy on the cruel
14:53 Archaeologists in Jerusalem unearth figurine from time of emperor Hadrian
14:51 Netanyahu: Likud-led coalition wouldn't build new settlements
10:35 Haaretz probe: Unknown overseas sources paid MK Lieberman NIS 2.5m
10:51 2 hurt, 1 seriously, after light plane crashes near Beit She`an
07:41 U.S. businessman Guma L. Aguiar gives $8m to Nefesh b'Nefesh
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 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