Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 22, 2007 Kislev 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:14 (EST+7)
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A license to kill
By Moshe Arens
Tags: Gaza Strip, Qassams

To the innumerable excuses the Olmert government has offered for not using ground troops to push the Qassam rockets launched from the Gaza Strip out of range, and finally fulfilling its obligation to provide security to the Israeli citizens in Sderot and the neighboring settlements, has now been added another lame excuse: We do not want to open a second front, in addition to the one up north. After all, we do not want to get caught fighting a two-front war.

This will remind those who still remember World War II of the two-front issue then. Hitler did not want to fight a two-front war so he signed, to the amazement of all, the Ribbentrop-Molotov non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. The pact gave him the chance to knock France out of the war before taking on the Soviet Union. After the Germans plunged into the Soviet Union, Stalin and his many admirers campaigned for the opening of a "second front" in the west so that Hitler would be forced to fight a two-front war.

But this is where the similarity with Israel's present predicament ends.
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It so happens that Israel has had experience with fighting two-front wars, and even three-front wars. It was tough, but Israel had no choice - and it won them all. But to describe the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Gaza Strip as a "second front" that Israel must at all costs avoid, even if it is at the expense of the school children in Sderot, is ridiculous. Does anybody seriously suggest that Israel is incapable of dealing with the Gaza terrorists while simultaneously remaining alert and prepared in the north? That such a challenge would bring the IDF to the limits of its capability? In the north we face the Syrian army, not the best army in the world, but, nevertheless, a substantial military force. In the south we face a rag-tag terrorist force in the Gaza Strip, which the IDF knows how to handle. To propose that dealing effectively with them would prejudice our ability to handle the Syrians, if that were required, is disingenuous.

In essence, what government spokesmen are suggesting is that as long as Syria or Hezbollah in Lebanon represent a potential threat we cannot deal effectively with the Qassam attacks in the south. If you add the concern for what is happening in Iran, the children in Sderot may never be able to go to school in safety. Israel's enemies have presumably brought Israel to the limits of its capability. Anybody who does not take seriously the plans that are being made for putting everybody into shelters and for developing rocket interception systems that will shoot down anything that flies, must be seriously concerned for Israel's future if this strategy is to prevail.

What is this strategy doing to Israel's deterrence? We evidently are unable to deter the launchers of Qassam rockets in the Gaza Strip, but the shoe is actually on the other foot. With this strategy, it is the Syrians who are deterring us from doing anything about the Qassams from Gaza. All they need to do is to keep up a semblance of tension in the north and they've got the IDF immobilized in the south. Even hints by government spokesmen about the dangers of "miscalculations" will do the same.

But worst of all is the effect this is having on the terrorists in the Gaza Strip. They feel that they can go on endangering the lives of Israeli civilians with impunity. Even launching Qassams at an Israeli army base or at "strategic targets" near Ashkelon won't get the IDF to act. They have been given a license to kill.

Deja vu? Of course. The same thing that happened with Hezbollah in the north for a number of years is now happening with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the south. And as in the north, it will not become easier to do what needs to be done as time goes by. Smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip, training with the aid of Iranian instructors, fortifying their positions, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are steadily preparing themselves for what they know will be coming sooner or later. And later it will be much more difficult than it is now. It may yet end up really being a second front
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  1.   Sderot children soon in safety 09:51  |  Jonathan S 17/09/07
  2.   Mr Arens 10:34  |  Sam 17/09/07
  3.   after killing 1000 Lebanese civilians Israel says this 10:56  |  mehmet 17/09/07
  4.   Regarding child-murder 11:32  |  Hannah 17/09/07
  5.   I have to agree, 100%. If done properly, it won`t take long, YUP! 11:45  |  Pavel 17/09/07
  6.   mehmet - how terribly wrong you are 11:57  |  tvi 17/09/07
  7.   The British method for 2nd fronts 12:27  |  John Smith 17/09/07
  8.   Deterrence 13:06  |  eddie 17/09/07
  9.   3.... the difference 13:12  |  ravi 17/09/07
  10.   how many tzvi ? tell me how many ? 13:15  |  mehmet 17/09/07
  11.   5... i have to agree with you... 13:19  |  ravi 17/09/07
  12.   hannah... dont quite like your choice of words.... 13:24  |  ravi 17/09/07
  13.   the murderers scream murder while holding the gun 13:25  |  VIPER 17/09/07
  14.   Never say Never 13:38  |  Natallie Durson 17/09/07
  15.   6...tvi 13:39  |  ravi 17/09/07
  16.   hutzpa 13:41  |  old-timer 17/09/07
  17.   Olmert allows terrorists to hold Israelis hostage 13:45  |  Barron 17/09/07
  18.   #12, Ravi 14:12  |  Hannah 17/09/07
  19.   mehmet, oh mehmet: REMEMBER ARMENIAN CIVILIANS KILLED by TURKS!!! 14:44  |  Vittorio 17/09/07
  20.   Crazy so-called Hannah 14:44  |  Hannah 17/09/07
  21.   All Due Respect 14:45  |  Ron 17/09/07
  22.   Totally deluded arab Hannah 14:47  |  Hannah 17/09/07
  23.   Moshe Arens id right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 14:49  |  Vittorio 17/09/07
  24.   to ravi 14:49  |  Sol 17/09/07
  25.   Sikmple answer: Retake South Lebanon & Gaza permanently. 15:03  |  Chaim 17/09/07
  26.   To Hannah 15:15  |  Travis 17/09/07
  27.   #26, Travis 15:26  |  Hannah 17/09/07
  28.   india`s kitchen accidents 15:32  |  ravi 17/09/07
  29.   TURN OF THE POWER - IN GAZA AND ISRAEL 15:42  |  Barry S. Roffman 17/09/07
  30.   sol and history 15:46  |  truth 17/09/07
  31.   chaim and hubris 15:50  |  Truth 17/09/07
  32.   you reap as you sow 15:52  |  ravi 17/09/07
  33.   the thugs who control slum pavements in mumbai 15:55  |  ravi 17/09/07
  34.   the thugs who control slum pavements in mumbai 15:55  |  ravi 17/09/07
  35.   #3 Mehmet 16:09  |  * BEN JABO 17/09/07
  36.   sol....24 16:26  |  ravi 17/09/07
  37.   28.... not me 16:30  |  ravi 17/09/07
  38.   History of Violence 16:49  |  New Day 17/09/07
  39.   Two front excuse 16:49  |  Zev 17/09/07
  40.   Arens` straw man 17:17  |  Tosefta 17/09/07
  41.   ravi "one life is the same as another life" 17:21  |  natallie durson 17/09/07
  42.   ravi "israel`s complicity in sabra massacre" 17:25  |  natallie durson 17/09/07
  43.   What`s the real reason? 17:30  |  The Northern Wind 17/09/07
  44.   every family has a chance to leave the fear 17:32  |  Atilla 17/09/07
  45.   Second Lebanon War 18:01  |  Brenda 17/09/07
  46.   ravi 18:02  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 17/09/07
  47.   Palestinians In Gaza Totally Dysfunctional 18:15  |  Yosemite 17/09/07
  48.   mehmet, notice the difference 18:20  |  Denton 17/09/07
  49.   #3 Mehmet 19:00  |  Ofer 17/09/07
  50.   the fake ravi is misleading you 19:11  |  ravi 17/09/07
  51.   heaven help you if you are born dark skinned in india 19:24  |  ravi 17/09/07
  52.   Is Olmert done YET? 19:59  |  Polybios 17/09/07
  53.   #30 truth 20:09  |  Sol 17/09/07
  54.   What is needed is a comprehensive solution... 20:21  |  Ibrahim 17/09/07
  55.   Ravi 32 20:37  |  Mark T 17/09/07
  56.   Still, making a mountain out of molehill about Qassams... 20:58  |  Dutch 17/09/07
  57.   Ibrahim, define "comprehensive"? 21:27  |  Polybios 17/09/07
  58.   Golda Mier 22:00  |  steve 17/09/07
  59.   #56DORIS I HAVE MADE THIS OFFER MANY TIMES 22:05  |  paul harris 17/09/07
  60.   You`re out of your bloomin` mind. 22:07  |  M. Franks-Lhermann 17/09/07
  61.   Mehmet lies: not these numbers, if Lebanese were to believe 22:08  |  Alain 17/09/07
  62.   to mehmet...first say sorry for 1 500 000 armenians 22:11  |  Alain 17/09/07
  63.   Can`t Stop The Qassams Because They Won`t Kill The Launchers 22:14  |  Efox 17/09/07
  64.   If it weren`t safe, sent the kids elsewhere 22:41  |  D. 17/09/07
  65.   Sol 53 23:25  |  Mark T 17/09/07
  66.   #64 D France 23:29  |  * BEN JABO 17/09/07
  67.   Ibrahim--54 23:29  |  Mark T 17/09/07
  68.   Steve-Golda Meir 23:31  |  Mark T 17/09/07
  69.   The Truth of the Matter 23:47  |  Yoram 17/09/07
  70.   Disengagement=a licence 2 kill 23:53  |  sam 17/09/07
  71.   Futile Defense 00:04  |  Lebanese 18/09/07
  72.   Mehmet 600 Hiz fighters 00:11  |  Nora 18/09/07
  73.   No. 68--Mark 00:44  |  steve 18/09/07
  74.   Israel and education 00:46  |  steve 18/09/07
  75.   Are you kidding Hannah? 01:13  |  Travis 18/09/07
  76.   Olmert wants to defend arab interests but not Israeli interests 01:14  |  zionist forever 18/09/07
  77.   Steve--Golda 01:20  |  Mark T 18/09/07
  78.   I LIKE HOW THIS ARTICLE COMPARES ISRAEL TO GERMANY 01:23  |  NON ZIONIST 18/09/07
  79.   Steve 01:24  |  Mark T 18/09/07
  80.   Did JFK claim USSR rockets blocked dealing with rockets in Cuba? 01:46  |  Dr. L. Brnd 18/09/07
  81.   Natallie Durson and proxies 02:12  |  Truth 18/09/07
  82.   #3 02:19  |  Moshe 18/09/07
  83.   Brnd 02:21  |  steve 18/09/07
  84.   "TRUTH"?SABRA/Shatila was Arab murdering Arab in revenge 02:31  |  PETER SM 18/09/07
  85.   What about the Palestinian children 02:40  |  Janaa`h 18/09/07
  86.   TARGETTING Israeli schools is a reflection on Pal use of children 02:41  |  PETER SM 18/09/07
  87.   Mark T the hardnose... 03:18  |  Ibrahim 18/09/07
  88.   Yeah, Brindt 03:44  |  steve 18/09/07
  89.   #56 Dutch--a mountain out of a molehill-- 04:01  |  Mosher 18/09/07
  90.   #71 04:16  |  Moshe 18/09/07
  91.   Hey, Mosher 04:22  |  steve 18/09/07
  92.   Ibrahim--final status 04:39  |  Mark T 18/09/07
  93.   Steve--crazy Steve 04:41  |  Mark T 18/09/07
  94.   Steve #71,72 - "Negotiated settlement" in Cuban Missile Crisis? 04:44  |  Dr. L. Brnd 18/09/07
  95.   Steve-terrorism 04:44  |  Mark T 18/09/07
  96.   reading into it 05:08  |  Paul 18/09/07
  97.   The word kill 05:14  |  Paul 18/09/07
  98.   janaah`h 05:17  |  maria 18/09/07
  99.   Brnd 94 05:28  |  Mark T 18/09/07
  100.   Worshipping false gods 08:23  |  Moshe 18/09/07
  101.   nora, say you are right 09:37  |  mehmet 18/09/07
  102.   sabra & shitilla 10:07  |  Joe 18/09/07
  103.   Moshe 100 14:29  |  Mark T 18/09/07
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