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Last update - 02:50 22/02/2008 Who is pressuring Gaza? By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Gaza Strip, Ehud Barak Two news reports, that complemented one another, on the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip were published yesterday. Haaretz reported there is growing international criticism - in Europe, Russia, the United Nations and even in the American administration - of Israel's policy toward the Gaza Strip. Al-Hayat reported that during a recent visit to Turkey, Defense Minister Ehud Barak considered the possibility of establishing a multinational force to oversee the situation in the Gaza Strip. These are two sides of the same coin. The situation on the two sides of the Gaza fence is unbearable, and a move to alter this situation using force may have unacceptable results. Israel can no longer explain to itself that it has to become reconciled to the shooting of rockets and mortars against its communities. A responsible government is required, at the end of the day, to be accountable to its citizens who are under attack. Its justifications for the failings, however reasonable they may be, may result in its rejection. The government, which finds itself stuck between the possibility of sustaining bloody attacks on the residents of the western Negev, and the possibility of a large-scale military operation, which will be costly and will last a long time, is searching for a middle road, in the form of ground and air attacks against Qassam rocket crews, militants and armed Palestinians threatening to attack Israel or endangering IDF forces. Another stage, which failed, was pressure on the civilian-economic front: harming the welfare of the residents of the Gaza Strip, which is already quite fragile. This poses the problem of collective punishment, which is both immoral and ineffective. The Hamas response - breaching the wall separating Rafah and Egypt - only complicated the relationship between Jerusalem and Cairo, and increased the likelihood of terrorism spilling into the Negev through Sinai. Advertisement It may be exaggerated to describe the attitude of the international community as "pressure." The expression of concern by low and mid-level officials, in whispers through cables, is still not pressure. So long as there is no president in the White House who threatens to suspend military aid to Israel, or avoids vetoing a Security Council resolution unfavorable to Israel, it is too much to talk about pressure being applied on Israel. But behind the words there are also no actions, and while the concern is genuine and justified, it is necessary that it influence the Israeli decision makers, both in terms of reasoning and feelings. To this is added the multinational force idea. Barak and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi have sent out a clear message in recent weeks: they are not excited about a large-scale operation in southern and northern Gaza, but the operation is nearing because the Qassam terror is not coming to an end. The duration of the operation will depend on the political and security arrangements that will be reached at its completion - the transferring of responsibility for the territory from which the IDF will withdraw following the completion of its mission. The UN and NATO will not send units to the Philadelphi Route. Moderate Muslim countries, who are not hostile to Israel - such as Turkey, Jordan, Malaysia and Qatar - are good candidates for such a force. The idea will not be enthusiastically welcomed by all; but whoever wants to avoid the need for such international intervention, the need for an IDF offensive, and the suffering of the Palestinian population - must pressure Hamas to put an end to the shooting that is causing all this. Bookmark to del.icio.us   And the Oscar goes to... Olmert is pulling for Beaufort, saying 'it's time Israel won an Oscar.' Battling on foreign soil Israeli Americans voted Clinton, but Obama won the global primary.   1.   Malaysia, Qatar Not Hostile to Israel ? 09:34  |  Tod Zuckerman 22/02/08   2.   Not hostile??? 11:39  |  Eugene 22/02/08   3.   writer is missing the point 11:50  |  Mark 22/02/08   4.   Pressure who? 13:49  |  Jan Elshout 22/02/08   5.   haaretz editorial on gaza 14:30  |  marcel 22/02/08   6.   ISRAEL RESORT TO DIPLOMACY INSTEAD OF BLOODSHED 16:21  |  JH 22/02/08   7.   Whoa! You`re trying to get me in trouble, ya? 17:19  |  The Archives 22/02/08   8.   What drivel 18:37  |  Marilyn 22/02/08   9.   The occupation causes this, the shooting is a reaction 20:01  |  True 22/02/08   10.   What hypocrisy 20:08  |  wibism 22/02/08   11.   gaza military strike 20:24  |  fred kass 22/02/08   12.   gaza strike 20:30  |  fred kass 22/02/08   13.   jan 00:17  |  schmidt 23/02/08   14.   Cease fire won`t work 02:26  |  RickD 23/02/08   15.   Impotent angry prisoner 02:39  |  Bitin Dawg 23/02/08   16.   World pressure 09:09  |  DJBSAT21 23/02/08   17.   Pressure HAMAS? 14:21  |  JJ 23/02/08   18.   Israel is showing weakness on both fronts 14:31  |  AA 23/02/08   19.   Gaza 17:06  |  Ed Rothberg 23/02/08   20.   #18 it is a weakness of the Israeli government, not people 01:11  |  Bob 24/02/08   21.   Have Gaza backwards! 01:51  |  Paul 24/02/08   22.   A moral component 08:47  |  Ron 24/02/08   23.   Poor Gazan 13:11  |  fatin firdaus 24/02/08   24.   Iranian war-mongers behind Hamas 07:40  |  Hanna 25/02/08

Today Online Israel raises security as Gazans plan mass protest along border Responses: 410 Gideon Levy: The Jerusalem issue is easy - half for Jews, half for Palestinians Responses: 125 For IDF brigade, 'Hebron is like Wild West and army is the law' Responses: 73 Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable' Responses: 158 Neo-Nazi turns Haredi after discovering his Jewish roots Responses: 69 More Headlines 08:35 PM says he's unaware of alerts for mass Gaza entry 08:12 Qatar willing to broker cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas 08:30 Israel to boycott UN conference on human rights and racism 08:39 Jewish filmmakers Joel, Ethan Coen win Oscar for 'No Country' 04:33 ANALYSIS: Mass Gaza march puts Hamas in a win-win situation 08:31 Obama`s top adviser says does not believe in imposing a peace settlement 08:28 Three Hamas militants killed in two separate IAF strikes in Gaza 02:40 In rare ruling, court orders settlers off Arab family's land 03:32 Canada's top court rejects appeal for passport to show 'Jerusalem, Israel' 08:14 T.A. cinema to screen 'Jenin, Jenin' on eve of director's libel trial 07:12 PM on Japan visit calls for tougher Iran sanctions in wake of IAEA report Previous Editions Select Day 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb

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