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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 10:35 30/10/2007 Acting out of frustration in Gaza By Haaretz Editorial Tags: gaza One can appreciate the frustration behind the defense establishment's proposal to sporadically cut the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip: Powerful Israel stands by helplessly while Qassam rockets continue falling on Sderot and the Negev. And these are attacks that in the not-so-distant future may become increasingly more accurate and effective. The operations carried out by Israel Defense Forces units in Gaza - in which a paratrooper was killed and a Golani Brigade soldier was seriously injured yesterday - are becoming more complicated, according to briefings, because they are increasingly encountering better organized and trained foes. It is easier for Israel to attack a reactor in Syria than hit nearby Beit Hanun, because it is difficult, if not outright impossible, to avoid civilian casualties there. Cutting off the supply of electricity, fuel and baby food is also a blatant blow against civilians - and only against them. One cannot claim that there will not be a serious humanitarian effect on the Gaza residents when, from the onset, they are subject to a permanent humanitarian crisis. Advertisement More than any defensive or deterrent effect, this policy is simply about revenge. It is understandable, in view of the continued attacks, but it cannot be accepted as a policy that was conceived in a rational manner by the Defense Ministry. The role of the defense establishment is to defend the country, not to avenge on its behalf, and not to dampen the frustration of the residents of Sderot by announcing operations stinking of spin. Moreover, the power that these civilians supposedly have to influence the Hamas government and make it stop the rocket fire against Israel is minimal. Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai says that this is in no way punitive, only a continuation of the process of Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip. Except that Gaza depends on Israel for the supply of its most basic needs, and the unilateral disengagement in the summer of 2005 did not alter this fact. Israel does not want to consider itself a state that ignores international law - even though it has diverged from it for years by establishing settlements in occupied territory. Attacking infrastructure is always problematic, and many believe that it never achieves anything, even if carried out in response to action targeting Israeli civilians. The inherent assumption in applying more severe sanctions against Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip is that it is easier to bring down Hamas than to defeat it in battle or talk with it, and that every blow against Hamas contributes to the strengthening of Mahmoud Abbas. This is the new idee fixe guiding Israel's policy in the territories, at least until the Annapolis summit. This approach may collapse, just like the ones that preceded it. If the aim is indeed complete disengagement, it is impossible to accomplish this only by disengaging from Gaza, nor can this be seen as part of an opportunistic maneuver, or as punishment. It must be done in an orderly and responsible manner, with the support of Europe and the United States. The Gaza Strip is not independent, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The babies of Gaza depend on the government of Israel more than the Hamas government, and the decision to punish them for the Qassam rockets does not contribute to the safety of the residents of Sderot. Bookmark to del.icio.us MTV generation MTV launches new channel in effort to draw Arab viewers. Not settling for less PA to U.S.: We demand a complete settlement freeze.   1.   Israel should truly leave Gaza totally 11:27  |  Jo 30/10/07   2.   "Haaretz",power of German civilians was also "minimal",Allies 12:02  |  Absolute Sweden 30/10/07   3.   Is this an Israeli Web Site? 12:02  |  Fred McCann 30/10/07   4.   "simply about revenge" 12:32  |  Mother of three 30/10/07   5.   Amazing Haaretz 12:52  |  Singer 30/10/07   6.   Why not post this at "Read&React"? 13:05  |  Martha 30/10/07   7.   #3 Fred 13:46  |  JJ 30/10/07   8.   Singer is singing the Nazi blues 13:47  |  Joe Sittizen 30/10/07   9.   "food and medicine will be held to a minimum" 13:47  |  Miriam 30/10/07   10.   Showdown in Gaza. 13:55  |  Stephen 30/10/07   11.   To -Mother of three 14:12  |  Mother of two 30/10/07   12.   "attack a reactor in Syria" 14:30  |  Hans Larsen 30/10/07   13.   Sabra & Shateela 14:36  |  Mette 30/10/07   14.   A Zionist speaks 14:40  |  Marteen 30/10/07   15.   Stephen 14:46  |  Mary 30/10/07   16.   Place your bets 14:53  |  Money Maker 30/10/07   17.   In order to present the hell in the West Bank as Heaven 14:55  |  Gungadin 30/10/07   18.   Why not post this at "Read&React"? 14:58  |  David 30/10/07   19.   #3 Fred 16:03  |  Zorro 30/10/07   20.   More like "out of" hatred 16:06  |  Leonardo Rossi 30/10/07   21.   My question is 16:09  |  Sarah 30/10/07   22.   Mary 16:20  |  Stephen 30/10/07   23.   iran is to blame for gaza 16:42  |  goldman 30/10/07   24.   So let`s return to the Gaza 16:46  |  G Powell 30/10/07   25.   Haaretz Editorial on Read & React 17:04  |  Shimon 30/10/07   26.   Comparison 17:12  |  Palestinian refugee 30/10/07   27.   Hans&Mette,in Denmark children of refugees are getting psychicall 17:18  |  Absolute Sweden 30/10/07   28.   Get out 18:01  |  David 30/10/07   29.   The best post here is by Fred McCann #3 18:05  |  Aaron 30/10/07   30.   To #3 Fred 18:47  |  David Chandler 30/10/07   31.   then lets retake gaza run it like the americans ran japan after w 19:03  |  ralph 30/10/07   32.   Let me quess Leonardo 19:27  |  Anti Apartheid 30/10/07   33.   Do you remember the Warsdaw Ghetto uprising? 19:30  |  Yadwiga 30/10/07   34.   #21 Sarah 19:34  |  Dennis 30/10/07   35.   Call up the reserves, it`s time to die in Gaza 20:00  |  Mad as a Hatter 30/10/07   36.   dialogue is the answer 20:00  |  john 30/10/07   37.   Fred is right, we are being paid by the US 20:05  |  David 30/10/07   38.   dialogue is the answer 20:06  |  John 30/10/07   39.   Goldman "Iran is to blame for Gaza" 20:38  |  SIlver 30/10/07   40.   Dear John #32 21:07  |  Alex 30/10/07   41.   Children of Sedrot 23:05  |  JJ 30/10/07   42.   Gaza babies don`t depend on Hamas? 00:44  |  Aaron 31/10/07   43.   Is this an Israeli Web Site? 13:02  |  Margaret Lynn 19/11/07

Today Online Shmuel Rosner: Anti-Israel attitudes on U.S. campuses Responses: 17 Yossi Beilin: Better to skip Annapolis meet than go there like this Responses: 34 Gazan dies of cancer after refused entry into Israel Responses: 103 Cabinet set to free 400 jailed Palestinians ahead of summit Responses: 14 PM, Barak hint at desire to renew talks with Syria Responses: 15 Poll: Most Americans still strong supporters of Israel Responses: 33 More Headlines 12:33 PM Olmert declares freeze on West Bank settlements 12:29 PM, Mubarak to meet in Sharm al-Sheikh Tuesday for surprise talks 10:25 Cabinet likely to approve release of 450 jailed Palestinians ahead of summit 07:42 Olmert and Barak hint at desire to renew negotiations with Syria 08:12 Germany rejects request to reopen talks on reparations deal 07:13 Gazan dies of cancer after being refused entrance into Israel 10:50 Survey: Majority of Americans are still strong supporters of Israel 11:35 Blair set to reveal projects for boosting Palestinian employment 10:20 8 percent of new IDF recruits have a criminal record Previous Editions Select Day 18 nov 16 nov 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov

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