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Last update - 08:22 28/10/2009
Aluf Benn / Who decided to go to war in Gaza and why?
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: goldstone gaza report 

I want to know how and why it was decided to embark on Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip and to expand it into a ground offensive. I want to know if the decisions were affected by the Israeli election campaign then underway and the change in U.S. presidents. I want to know if the leaders who launched the operation correctly judged the political damage it would cause Israel and what they did to minimize it. I want to know if those who gave orders to the Israel Defense Forces assumed that hundreds of Palestinian civilians would be killed, and how they tried to prevent this.

These questions should be at the center of an investigation into Operation Cast Lead. An investigation is necessary because of the political complexities that resulted from the operation, the serious harm to Palestinian civilians, the Goldstone report and its claims of war crimes, and the limits that will be imposed on the IDF's freedom of operation in the future. There is no room to argue that the government should be allowed to govern without interference and investigations, with the public passing judgment at the ballot box. The government changed after the Gaza operation and the questions remain troublesome.

The investigations by the army and Military Police are meant to examine soldiers' behavior on the battlefield. They are no substitute for a comprehensive examination of the activities of the political leadership and senior command, who are responsible for an operation and its results. It's not the company or battalion commanders who need to be investigated, but former prime minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, and the heads of the intelligence chiefs and Foreign Ministry, who were party to the decisions. It is also important to investigate Barak and Livni's election campaign advisers to find out if and how the campaign affected the military and diplomatic efforts.
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The following questions require answers:

Why did the "cease-fire" agreement between Israel and Hamas collapse, and who decided and why on an IDF operation against the tunnel uncovered near the Gaza border on November 4, which resulted in renewed escalation in the south?

Before embarking on Cast Lead, were diplomatic alternatives explored for achieving calm in the south? Was Hamas' proposal for renewing calm in exchange for opening crossings seriously considered in Israel, or did the government only want a military operation?

How did the rising popularity of the opposition parties, Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman, as reflected in polls at the time, affect Barak and Livni's stances before and during the operation?

What was the importance of image as informed by concepts such as "restoring deterrence" and "overcoming the trauma of the Second Lebanon War" in the decisions to embark on the operation and introduce ground forces?

Did the cabinet receive assessments that discussed the possibility that hundreds of Palestinian women and children would be killed? Did ministers voice fiery rhetoric at cabinet meetings that could have been understood as encouragement to harm Palestinian civilians? Did Olmert and Attorney General Menachem Mazuz intervene and silence such voices?

How did the personal and political infighting between Olmert, Barak and Livni affect the decision making? Why did Barak support a humanitarian cease-fire immediately after the operation began, and why did Olmert and Livni reject his proposal? Why did Livni change her position as the fighting ensued and Olmert insisted on continuing the operation?

Who decided to bomb the flour mill and sewage treatment center in Gaza, and why?

Did Olmert weigh the expected damage to Israel at the United Nations when he rejected the Security Council's call for an immediate cease-fire?

Where did Olmert disappear to on January 13 when Barak and Livni could not find him in an effort to offer a cease-fire?

A state commission of inquiry should be established. Such committees have been set up before for significantly less important issues than the war in Gaza. But the political reality is paralyzing: The defense minister and the chief of staff fear the fate of their predecessors who lost their jobs because of the Yom Kippur War and the two Lebanon wars. The prime minister is afraid of Barak and Ashkenazi. The Knesset State Control Committee under Kadima's Yoel Hasson will not initiate an investigation against Livni. Without a state commission of inquiry, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss must undertake the role himself. He has already proved that he is afraid of neither Olmert nor Barak.

Related articles:
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  • Netanyahu rejects inquiry, sets up special panel to counter Goldstone
  • Livni: Goldstone probe based on 'perverted system of values'
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      1.   GOOD LUCK, ALUF BENN... 03:32  |  EL 28/10/09
      2.   Who decided to go to war? 03:53  |  Jeffrey 28/10/09
      3.   All very good questions, Aluf 04:44  |  Johnboy 28/10/09
      4.   Your answers: hey idiot, ever heard of Sederot? 04:50  |  Jon 28/10/09
      5.   want to know how and why it was decided to embark on Operation C 05:14  |  gideon ben yoash 28/10/09
      6.   Those Who Live in Glass Houses 05:18  |  Steve of Mevaserret 28/10/09
      7.   These questions won`t be answered truthfully. 05:22  |  Lou Medel 28/10/09
      8.   Ten months too late to ask the obvious Mr. Benn 05:22  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      9.   The New York Times was once the most 05:31  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      10.   I must point out that these same questions 05:33  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      11.   War Sells Newspapers 05:35  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      12.   it seems you left out something... 05:47  |  jon 28/10/09
      13.   Operation Cast Lead was a necessity. 05:48  |  Vittorio 28/10/09
      14.   investigate crimes against israel 05:48  |  michael 28/10/09
      15.   Speaking of assumptions... 06:01  |  Colin Wright 28/10/09
      16.   are you on crack? 06:11  |  B 28/10/09
      17.   This explains why every time Bibi makes a conciliatory move 06:49  |  Esther 28/10/09
      18.   Stupid questions indeed! 07:15  |  Michael Dar 28/10/09
      19.   We never had a chance in UN to begin with 07:19  |  tal 28/10/09
      20.   only a few questions 07:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      21.   Simple Answeres 07:41  |  Ron 28/10/09
      22.   Fugetaboutit 07:44  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/10/09
      23.   Mr Benn that`s a really stupid question. 07:47  |  L Sass 28/10/09
      24.   Bravo,bravo,bravo, Aluf Benn 07:52  |  dani.a 28/10/09
      25.   Colin Wright - wrong 07:53  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      26.   Good questions, but why just now? 07:56  |  Michael N 28/10/09
      27.   Bravo #8 07:58  |  paul 28/10/09
      28.   What Cast Lead did not do 07:59  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      29.   Colin Wright - who are you talking about? 08:15  |  Joe Sittizen 28/10/09
      30.   Oye, Steve #2...many of us have formal credentials... 08:15  |  Esther 28/10/09
      31.   Mark Lincoln please show us 08:43  |  Peter Williams 28/10/09
      32.   to mark lincoln 08:48  |  Antony 28/10/09
      33.   Anyone thinking of the next moves? 09:19  |  S 28/10/09
      34.   Steve #2, from the very narrow slot out of which you perceive 09:25  |  Esther 28/10/09
      35.   all legitimate questions 09:33  |  rm 28/10/09
      36.   Who decided to go to war in Gaza and why? Try these Benn 09:49  |  Censored 28/10/09
      37.   Israeli liberals? 09:50  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      38.   Why oh Why 10:01  |  Ron 28/10/09
      39.   Aluf Benn`s article is leading to a more fundamental question.... 10:49  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/10/09
      40.   A few more question 11:02  |  Sherlock Holmes 28/10/09
      41.   Why 11:05  |  Froy 28/10/09
      42.   IF 11:07  |  Danny 28/10/09
      43.   Why only one commission? 11:14  |  Motic 28/10/09
      44.   questions and answers 11:44  |  Carol Scheller 28/10/09
      45.   Excellent questions from Aluf Benn 11:45  |  r cummings 28/10/09
      46.   Froy 12:01  |  John Spear 28/10/09
      47.   Simply Look at thr Record 14:55  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/10/09
      48.   Reasons for going to war were because diplomacy rejected 15:02  |  Smadar 28/10/09
      49.   Why 15:17  |  Klara Slätt 28/10/09
      50.   Can`t agree more , just with a little clearity to it . 15:19  |  TOMY 28/10/09
      51.   Aluf Ben 15:25  |  Baruch 28/10/09
      52.   good, let hamas win the next elections 15:30  |  jon 28/10/09
      53.   Aluf Benn forgot daily rockets attack 15:33  |  Borcuh 28/10/09
      54.   dani.a 15:49  |  Dave 28/10/09
      55.   Aluf Benn shows Real Courage 15:56  |  Steve Benassi 28/10/09
      56.   Swiss (dino) 16:00  |  Dave 28/10/09
      57.   Aluf Benn - "Line of Questioning" 16:02  |  Col [Res] Cohen 28/10/09
      58.   The war on Gaza was decided 16:05  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/10/09
      59.   Swiss (Dino) Who is to blame? 16:09  |  David Israel 28/10/09
      60.   I hope someone`s listening 16:12  |  Sara 28/10/09
      61.   Cipora is living in confusion 16:20  |  Ibrahim 28/10/09
      62.   You ask why? 16:24  |  harvey 28/10/09
      63.   Sherlock Holmes has forgotten how to think 16:31  |  Ibrahim 28/10/09
      64.   to Sherlock Holmes #40, one answer 16:31  |  zeev 28/10/09
      65.   ask hamas 16:32  |  alan 28/10/09
      66.   To all `Cast Lead` defenders 16:52  |  David M 28/10/09
      67.   The elections 16:57  |  Moshe 28/10/09
      68.   Operation name "Cast Lead" 16:59  |  lysias 28/10/09
      69.   World obsession with Israel 17:02  |  GD 28/10/09
      70.   Don`t you just love `Col` Sanders, I mean Cohen 17:06  |  r cummings 28/10/09
      71.   It`s great to see Jews toughening up 17:11  |  Jason 28/10/09
      72.   Mark Lincoln, I`m disappointed 17:25  |  Pssd Off American 28/10/09
      73.   Mark Lincoln, I`m disappointed #2 17:26  |  Pssd Off American 28/10/09
      74.   why? 17:38  |  Yaron 28/10/09
      75.   What was the alternative to Cast Lead? 17:51  |  r cummings 28/10/09
      76.   IOF psychology 17:52  |  Shadi 28/10/09
      77.   To all `Cast Lead` defenders 18:02  |  Cheryl M 28/10/09
      78.   Cast Lead -- Aluf Benn 18:11  |  Ted 28/10/09
      79.   The war in Gaza was justified. 18:15  |  Catarin 28/10/09
      80.   to Jason #71 18:18  |  zeev 28/10/09
      81.   Because, CJ Kohn #20 (3rd try) 18:20  |  zeev 28/10/09
      82.   Peter, with the short and convenient memory 18:24  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      83.   The most frustrating thing about Cast Lead 18:46  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      84.   Operation Cast Lead has a Life of its Own 18:48  |  Stephen 28/10/09
      85.   #2 & #16 19:00  |  Czarkazem13 28/10/09
      86.   Yes, Pssd Off American 19:05  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      87.   Excellent questions: the price of being the only democracy in the 19:08  |  ankhfnkhonsu 28/10/09
      88.   #81, zeev 19:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      89.   PO`d American 2 19:09  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      90.   Michael of canada 19:12  |  Sabra 28/10/09
      91.   POed American 3 19:12  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      92.   ibrahim 19:16  |  second try 28/10/09
      93.   # 75 r cummings What was the alternative to Cast Lead? 19:16  |  Traude 28/10/09
      94.   POed American 4 19:18  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      95.   Mark Lincoln 19:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      96.   Swiss (Dino)`s Multiple Choice Question 19:22  |  JP 28/10/09
      97.   Pssd Off Everyone sorry if reality doesn`t fit ideology 19:27  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      98.   Israel`s remnant left 19:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      99.   The MOST important Question that AB did NOT 19:36  |  ask? 28/10/09
      100.   Moderates - ankhfnkhonsu 19:39  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      101.   #33, S, "anyone thinking of the next move?" 19:41  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      102.   It was an ambush 19:41  |  dani 28/10/09
      103.   Traud, and Conservative Amnesia Syndrome 19:51  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      104.   Hamas stopped rockets in Nov. 19:57  |  Gabby 28/10/09
      105.   Cipora - duh, but 19:58  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      106.   ask? The rhetorical question and the rhetorical answer 20:07  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      107.   Here comes the New Move, same as the Old Move 20:11  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      108.   #96 JP , very good analigy , Swiss will not get it . 20:13  |  TOMY 28/10/09
      109.   for mark lincoln 20:14  |  jon 28/10/09
      110.   Mark Lincoln: You must be dizzy from all your spinning of facts 20:18  |  flyingdoc57 28/10/09
      111.   Aluf Benn 20:18  |  Rich Yaffe 28/10/09
      112.   # 104 Gabby , Hamas stopped because they were 20:19  |  TOMY 28/10/09
      113.   #109.TOMY, the moral is If one wants to avoid 20:26  |  Cooper 28/10/09
      114.   106 mark lincoln 20:26  |  Dave 28/10/09
      115.   what would`ve happened if Hamass beat the IDF/Cast Lead 20:26  |  Jewish DOCTOR 28/10/09
      116.   #107, Mark, it helps to think 20:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      117.   #98 Cipora and we all know that these wars are half-measures 20:39  |  Smadar 28/10/09
      118.   #112 TOMY,I been OBJECTIVE 20:45  |  benami 28/10/09
      119.   cooper the occupied territories 20:50  |  dave 28/10/09
      120.   #117, Smadar 20:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      121.   Gabby: Here are some numbers for you...enjoy! 20:56  |  flyingdoc57 28/10/09
      122.   Traude, of course the disengagement made the war possible 21:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/09
      123.   Jeffrey #2 21:06  |  White Russian 28/10/09
      124.   cooper...post #113 21:13  |  jon 28/10/09
      125.   #41 Froy, you hit the nail on the head 21:15  |  Ben Alofs 28/10/09
      126.   so well said flyingdoc! 21:26  |  jon 28/10/09
      127.   What`s a military op worth, when it doesn`t shock and awhs? 21:28  |  Kris Lazar 28/10/09
      128.   flyingdoc 21:30  |  Gabby 28/10/09
      129.   Can any american liberal left peahead answer this? 21:31  |  jon 28/10/09
      130.   Israel`s Stalingrad? 21:34  |  Brian 28/10/09
      131.   "Sderot" or "Kassam" not mentioned... 21:42  |  Skeptic 28/10/09
      132.   flyingdoc57,reply to gabby has interesting definition of nothing 21:48  |  Richard Pearce 28/10/09
      133.   #121 Who broke the ceasfire? 21:49  |  White Russian 28/10/09
      134.   No more rockets=Cast Lead success. 21:52  |  4:20 28/10/09
      135.   to flyingdoc57 - great post! 22:06  |  Cheryl M 28/10/09
      136.   Aluf Benn article sits well with Goldstone report 22:09  |  Roo 28/10/09
      137.   Richard Pearce (122)..citing Palestinian Center for Human Rights. 22:11  |  flyingdoc57 28/10/09
      138.   Mayday, mayday, Flying doc 22:22  |  White Russian 28/10/09
      139.   pearce 22:23  |  jon 28/10/09
      140.   to roo... 22:28  |  montreal 28/10/09
      141.   what a stupid idiotic question 22:36  |  chaim 28/10/09
      142.   Mark Lincoln, a reply 22:44  |  Pssd Off American 28/10/09
      143.   Mark Lincoln, a reply #2 22:45  |  Pssd Off American 28/10/09
      144.   No Gabby, Hamas forced a drastic reduction in 22:45  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      145.   Mark Lincoln, a reply #3 22:47  |  Pssd Off American 28/10/09
      146.   Mark Lincoln, a reply #4(last) 22:48  |  Pssd Off American 28/10/09
      147.   Another lunatic heard from 22:49  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      148.   Cipora old ladies of both sexes are terrified 22:55  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      149.   Schutze Staffel - SS 22:57  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      150.   Flying Doctors 23:00  |  Mark Lincoln 28/10/09
      151.   War sells 23:02  |  ruiz 28/10/09
      152.   Why Credentials Matter (Esther 30, 34) 23:14  |  Steve of Mevaserret 28/10/09
      153.   # 122 Cipora Julianna Kohn 23:37  |  Traude 28/10/09
      154.   mark lincoln 00:09  |  rich 29/10/09
      155.   Pssd Off American - DIME 00:12  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/09
      156.   Pssd Off American - Goldstone on warnings 00:22  |  Mark Lincoln 29/10/09
      157.   Sorry to disappoint John and flyingdoc, but PCHR has credibility 00:37  |  Richard Pearce 29/10/09
      158.   Hamas decided to go to war firing rockets at Israeli children for 01:14  |  ks 29/10/09
      159.   Insane Palestinian Supporters 01:21  |  sfg 29/10/09
      160.   Mark Lincoln Wrong Again 01:31  |  sfg 29/10/09
      161.   chaim - what came first, rockets or occupation and territorial 01:32  |  CJ 29/10/09
      162.   #121 You appear to reverse cause and effect, flyingdoc57 01:49  |  Johnboy 29/10/09
      163.   As mark notes (#107) there is no "new move" 02:09  |  more_war_please 29/10/09
      164.   Jon in Montreal doesn`t get it 02:14  |  US_citizen 29/10/09
      165.   WHO decided to fire Qassams&continuedfiring them during the Hudna 02:35  |  PETER SM 29/10/09
      166.   disingenous Aluf Benn`s loss of memory 02:52  |  bernard ross 29/10/09
      167.   #132 Richard Pearce CANNOT tell DIFFERENCE between GAZAand WB 03:48  |  CK Tan 29/10/09
      168.   mark lincoln CONTINUES to PEDDLE his CEASEFIRE myth 04:00  |  CK Tan 29/10/09
      169.   sabra 90 04:18  |  michael 29/10/09
      170.   little by little, calls for an investigation are likely to grow 04:35  |  eric 29/10/09
      171.   ignorance 05:06  |  pissed off israeli 29/10/09
      172.   I can tell you who decided 05:31  |  Ephraim 29/10/09
      173.   An enquiry into the Gaza war should 06:58  |  Dafna 29/10/09
      174.   Excellent Questions 07:19  |  Vladek 29/10/09
      175.   Cipora #88... your paranoia.... 07:26  |  Esther 29/10/09
      176.   MARK LINCOLN Gaza "A Foreign entity" Knesset July 11 2007 07:33  |  PETER SM 29/10/09
      177.   Richard Pearce (#132) Wow school buses stolen 11:04  |  Gil 29/10/09
      178.   Richard Pearce (#132) Wow school buses stolen 11:04  |  Gil 29/10/09
      179.   #151 PETER SM, and the theatre of the absurd 11:08  |  Johnboy 29/10/09
      180.   to Cheryl M #77 (3rd try) 12:13  |  zeev 29/10/09
      181.   to CJ Kohn #88 - 1/2 (3rd try) 12:15  |  zeev 29/10/09
      182.   to CJ Kohn #88 - 2/2 (3rd try) 12:17  |  zeev 29/10/09
      183.   Israel should conduct an investigation but not for reasons given 13:22  |  Sally 29/10/09
      184.   Israel should conduct its own investigation (con`t) 13:32  |  Sally 29/10/09
      185.   To Ms. Kohn... 16:20  |  Silvienne 29/10/09
      186.   a good documentary to see 17:08  |  jon 29/10/09
      187.   War is war, and no-one wants to be held accountable. 21:31  |  sandra chitayat 29/10/09
      188.   I want truth 09:20  |  Te 31/10/09
      189.   peter 165 03:11  |  stephanie 01/11/09
      190.   jon #186 03:36  |  stephanie 01/11/09
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