Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., March 01, 2008 Adar1 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 06:46 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 02:42 28/02/2008
On the edge in the South
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Hamas, Qassam, Gaza, Israel

Yesterday, when he eulogized Dan Shomron, the 13th chief of staff who was his immediate predecessor and his friend, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Shomron was "one of the Israel Defense Forces more daring architects, and at the same time one of its more level-headed ones."

Israel is now in need of such a combination of daring action and good judgment, in light of the escalation in the attacks on its communities from Sderot to Ashkelon.

The dozens of rockets that were fired yesterday from the Gaza Strip - one of which killed Roni Yehiah, a 47-year-old father of four - have placed the IDF on the threshold of a major raid into the Palestinian territory. Crossing this threshold is soon liable to be seen as a necessity that cannot be condemned, but it can still be prevented.
Advertisement
Responsibility for the escalation lies entirely with the Palestinian side; in other words, the Hamas government. We can only imagine what would happen had the Palestinians launched rockets southward into Egyptian territory. We can assume that Egypt would protect its sovereignty and the welfare of its citizens with a tough response directed at the sources of the firing.

Israel is entitled to preserve its sovereignty, which is violated daily by steep-trajectory firing and occasionally by underground activity as well. Its citizens deserve protection from the Qassams.

At present there is no system for intercepting the Qassams, nor is there sufficient protection from them. Even when the development of security measures is completed and the protection is expanded, tens of thousands of Israelis will remain exposed to the Qassams, the Katyushas and the Grad missiles. The IDF's preventive activities against the armed squads, most of them from the air, are justified. They cannot serve as an excuse for the rocket barrages.

What is delaying the IDF's ground operation in Gaza is no longer the fear that a return to the territory from which Israel withdrew in the summer of 2005 will be an admission of failure. The government has an obligation to address present needs and future considerations. Even when our blood is boiling, the calculation has to be cold in terms of cost-effectiveness: Can the IDF expect to pay an intolerable price in casualties when it enters the territory and until it knows how to leave it, and to what extent and for how long will this remove the threat of steep-trajectory terror from its citizens?

After the severe attack at the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium in June 2001, Ariel Sharon said that "restraint is strength." Sharon stopped thinking so nine months later, after hundreds had been killed, and after the mass murder in the Park Hotel in Netanya. It's true that in the South there have been fewer casualties, but Israel has been restraining itself for a far longer time, to the point where restraint can no longer be seen as strength.

Although the situation has worsened, a massive invasion of Gaza is not unavoidable, if outside forces can be harnessed to decree restraint on Hamas. Primarily U.S. President George W. Bush and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose senior emissaries are investing a great deal of diplomatic effort which has been unsuccessful so far in cooling the flames. The U.S. secretary of state and the Egyptian intelligence minister, both of whom are scheduled to arrive in Israel in the coming days, can and must make it clear to Hamas that if Israel is pushed into crossing the fence in Gaza should the efforts fail, the world will be understanding.

The decision as to whether, how and when to embark on an operation will remain in Israel's hands. We must hope that this decision will be both daring and level-headed
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Power to the people
Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel.
Calculated escalation
Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.
  1.   A convoy of merchant ships to break the Egyptian blockade 08:43  |  Yonatan 28/02/08
  2.   We Can Win With Minimal Risk To Our Troops 10:05  |  Yishai Kohen 28/02/08
  3.   Another form of Daring 10:24  |  Tzfonit 28/02/08
  4.   #1, Yonatan, you are right 10:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/02/08
  5.   Quassam 10:41  |  ruti 28/02/08
  6.   Here`s a truly amazing suggestion for Israel 10:43  |  Clickfool 28/02/08
  7.   YISHAI COHEN You mean do it Arab style?They understand each other 10:47  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
  8.   Simple solution per Yossi Peled & Meir Shitrit 10:47  |  Dr Eric 28/02/08
  9.   This morning on Kol Yisrael - Yossi peled reccommended!! 10:50  |  Dr Eric 28/02/08
  10.   Just an idea 10:59  |  Lobo08 28/02/08
  11.   For ridiculous, simplistic, ignorant Yishair Kohen # 2 11:01  |  Clickfool 28/02/08
  12.   Re Yishai #2 11:02  |  Esther 28/02/08
  13.   A few small problems with Yishai Kohen`s plan 11:02  |  spyguy 28/02/08
  14.   Olmert is NOT holding back the military 11:11  |  spyguy 28/02/08
  15.   The Spirit of Joshua 11:18  |  Dennis 28/02/08
  16.   Sick and TIRED!............. 11:19  |  Jeff 28/02/08
  17.   SPYGUY What problem?Arabs have sorted each other out that style 11:34  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
  18.   TZFONIT - Diplomacy failed miserably - See the oslo accords!!! 11:53  |  Dr Eric 28/02/08
  19.   Spyguy - as long as arabs have oil- Israel won`t be popular!!!! 11:58  |  Dr Eric 28/02/08
  20.   Esther: Listening To You Is Why There Is War In The South 12:00  |  Yishai Kohen 28/02/08
  21.   Gee Spyguy: History Already Proved You Wrong In Judea And Samaria 12:04  |  Yishai Kohen 28/02/08
  22.   Tzfonit daring-do 12:25  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/02/08
  23.   For Yishai Kohen again # 21 12:49  |  Clickfool 28/02/08
  24.   The carrot and the stick 13:01  |  Arnie 28/02/08
  25.   Imagine Hamas attacking Egypt 13:04  |  JJ burke 28/02/08
  26.   Gazian people made their choice, Israel must make ours 13:11  |  Steven 28/02/08
  27.   Haaertz showing true colore? 13:14  |  pal 28/02/08
  28.   Margie, Yishai Kohen, Eric 13:19  |  Tzfonit 28/02/08
  29.   Tzfonit 13:20  |  Walid 28/02/08
  30.   #3 Tzfonit 13:22  |  Yonatan 28/02/08
  31.   Yishai Kohen 2 how dare you speak the truth 13:23  |  Steven 28/02/08
  32.   #6 Clickfool`s "wisdom" 13:24  |  Yonatan 28/02/08
  33.   Esther 12 Do me a favor 13:26  |  Steven 28/02/08
  34.   Tzfonit is right 13:34  |  sh 28/02/08
  35.   Remind us Dr Eric 13:39  |  sh 28/02/08
  36.   Gaza 13:43  |  Avi 28/02/08
  37.   Gaza operation has to start in Natanz 14:02  |  Jonathan S 28/02/08
  38.   Yishai Cohen Has it Right 14:26  |  Jane 28/02/08
  39.   Be Careful! You`re being Suckered Into a War Situation ! 14:27  |  MIKE 28/02/08
  40.   Np, The World Will Not Be Understanding 14:27  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/02/08
  41.   Stop vacillating and do something! 14:53  |  Saul 28/02/08
  42.   Before That Man Was Murdered By Hamas I Had A Great Idea... 14:56  |  Yosemite 28/02/08
  43.   Double Negative? 15:00  |  Jeff Northridge 28/02/08
  44.   Oaf Sharon was pushed into "restraint is strength" by Yoska Fishe 15:23  |  Absolute Sweden 28/02/08
  45.   Yes or no. NO chetsi chetsi 15:23  |  Tulip 28/02/08
  46.   Margie Daring-Done 15:48  |  Tzahi 28/02/08
  47.   Distorsion of facts 15:52  |  Jan Elshout 28/02/08
  48.   If there is no Politcal Solution. An invasion is.. 16:08  |  Stephen. 28/02/08
  49.   respobnsibility 16:14  |  geroge 28/02/08
  50.   Why should Isaraelis live in peace while the occupationcontinues? 16:21  |  Fritz T. 28/02/08
  51.   occupation continues 16:47  |  Barry 28/02/08
  52.   Fritz # 26: `occupation` exists because they won`t give us peace 16:53  |  x-ray 28/02/08
  53.   Cut 16:55  |  observer 28/02/08
  54.   israel is not a normal state,it is still shell shocked from world 17:16  |  lakshmi 28/02/08
  55.   Abu Rish Brigades ... Islamic Jihad ... 17:32  |  Rowan Berkeley 28/02/08
  56.   I`ve got a great candidate, Emira Hass (sounds like Hamas) 17:43  |  Ha Shamayim 28/02/08
  57.   Re Yishai #20 17:46  |  Esther 28/02/08
  58.   x-ray to Fritz on the occupation 17:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/02/08
  59.   Fritz T. # 26 Self-Defense? Hardly 17:52  |  Jeff Northridge 28/02/08
  60.   Clickfool_read Hamas Charter and You Will Know Why... 18:07  |  Albert 28/02/08
  61.   To Peter SM 18:08  |  pal 28/02/08
  62.   On the edge in the South 18:09  |  Julian 28/02/08
  63.   Bush and Egypt will have no influence whatsoever. 18:11  |  sandra chitayat 28/02/08
  64.   TO: PETER SM 18:15  |  pal 28/02/08
  65.   #33 the ash tree sways in the wind of blame 18:42  |  v hardman 28/02/08
  66.   Tzfonit 18:45  |  Walid 28/02/08
  67.   #38 pal and misinformation revisited 18:47  |  v hardman 28/02/08
  68.   IDF has excellent kill ratio, keep it up, no need to change 18:49  |  Voice of Reason 28/02/08
  69.   Operation cannot be "daring and level-headed" simply because... 18:56  |  common sense 28/02/08
  70.   unsettling naivity 19:04  |  nachman pilpel 28/02/08
  71.   The Delusion of the Worldly Acceptance 19:07  |  Yahrael 28/02/08
  72.   SpyPutz- No military solution to terror? Russian, Chinese armies 19:17  |  Stephen in New York 28/02/08
  73.   How can you compare Egipt with Israel 19:18  |  Ana 28/02/08
  74.   Stop killing Palestinians 19:19  |  Marilyn 28/02/08
  75.   THe Situation is Absurd - Even Haaretz Recognizes This 19:34  |  Tod Zuckerman 28/02/08
  76.   End kassams by moving Westward the Gaza border opposite Sderot 19:37  |  Dr. L. Brnd 28/02/08
  77.   Gaza 19:37  |  P. J. Casey 28/02/08
  78.   For Clickfool (the ME expert) 19:57  |  Ram 28/02/08
  79.   #3Tzfonit.You got more sence thatthe lot of them 19:59  |  Arik 28/02/08
  80.   #45.Marilyn is right,PLEASE STOP KILLING PALS. 20:10  |  Fed up Neil 28/02/08
  81.   To Maryln-Sovereign States Need to Defend Themselves 20:18  |  Albert 28/02/08
  82.   #Ana,nice Jewish value. 20:24  |  Arik 28/02/08
  83.   Another try at this posting 20:36  |  pal 28/02/08
  84.   Arik 48- Hamas hudnas are worthless tricks 20:39  |  Stephen in New York 28/02/08
  85.   "daring and level-headed " response is not possible because 20:46  |  common sense 28/02/08
  86.   in `34 in a very secret memorandum, 20:57  |  triska TORONTO 28/02/08
  87.   Excuse me Haaretz...this is absurd claim! 21:19  |  Dutch Dirk 28/02/08
  88.   stephen in New York #43 i not sure if this would work but it 21:19  |  terrornator 28/02/08
  89.   PAL.NO the British mandate was divided 80+% Arab by Britain & 21:37  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
  90.   HELLO VOICE, WHAT`S AN ACCEPTABLE RATIO. 21:44  |  bill gordon 28/02/08
  91.   MY Favourite ZSA ARABIST-Tzfonit #3 21:49  |  GABE 1 28/02/08
  92.   49 Neil,well said,but the international community must take 21:50  |  lakshmi 28/02/08
  93.   Clickfool -Appropriate Name 21:52  |  Gordon 28/02/08
  94.   Terrornator-killing people in cold blood not kosher 22:10  |  Stephen in New York 28/02/08
  95.   On the edge in the south 22:30  |  Stephen 28/02/08
  96.   Hamas is a Facist Islamist Group 22:36  |  Sheldon 28/02/08
  97.   #15 Dennis 22:38  |  Boycott 28/02/08
  98.   Tis true Yonatan 22:41  |  Mark Lincoln 28/02/08
  99.   Palestinian sovereignity should not be violated either 22:56  |  Dutch 28/02/08
  100.   On the edge in the South 22:57  |  Mark 28/02/08
  101.   Getting desperate, Lakshmi? 22:59  |  Albert 28/02/08
  102.   Tzahi: no political party is eternal 23:11  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/02/08
  103.   #37, Sandra is absolutely right 23:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/02/08
  104.   mark # 60 slavery,lol,i`ve never heard it called that 23:38  |  terrornator 28/02/08
  105.   Margie of South Africa 23:48  |  GABE S1 28/02/08
  106.   Haretz wants US to tone hamas down 23:49  |  marcel 28/02/08
  107.   Margie of South Africa #62 00:05  |  GABE S1 29/02/08
  108.   #59 doris cadigan and pure ignorance again 00:12  |  v hardman 29/02/08
  109.   Cipora #63 00:14  |  GABE S1 29/02/08
  110.   Margie: Burning Can Leave One Burned 00:29  |  Tzahi 29/02/08
  111.   Israel reserves the right to protect it`s sovereignty... 00:39  |  Maureen Ann 29/02/08
  112.   my my what a difference a day makes. however it is still haaretz 01:08  |  ralph 29/02/08
  113.   2ndTry-Terroranator-killing in cold blood not kosher 01:37  |  Stephen in New York 29/02/08
  114.   To Dutch-"Old Polish SAaying" 01:50  |  Allen 29/02/08
  115.   #32 Israel is a shell-shocked state 03:18  |  vilde chaye 29/02/08
  116.   victor pretendharris 03:59  |  Phil 29/02/08
  117.   Resisting occupation is legitimate 04:09  |  Truthteller 29/02/08
  118.   It is time for Israel to surrender 04:32  |  Shulamit 29/02/08
  119.   Hey, Neil, #45 04:48  |  Max 29/02/08
  120.   #68, truthteller, you lie like a rug 04:55  |  Max 29/02/08
  121.   Margie of S.A and Bracha 04:57  |  GABE 1 29/02/08
  122.   Margie of S.A and Tzahi 04:59  |  GABE 1 29/02/08
  123.   Shulamit-Read the Koran.. 04:59  |  Samuel 29/02/08
  124.   Shulamit @71 05:07  |  GABE1 29/02/08
  125.   Sulamit, I totally agree. Very simple solution, bravo. 05:12  |  Yaakov Sullivan 29/02/08
  126.   70 Truthteller, you are a liar. 05:23  |  I 29/02/08
  127.   71 Quizz: How many paid Arab propagandists write to Haaretz? 05:28  |  I 29/02/08
  128.   #70 - When Resistance Ins`t Legitimate 05:34  |  Tom 29/02/08
  129.   #21 05:36  |  Jew with a clue 29/02/08
  130.   66 Steven not in NY: Murdering Innocent Jews is against Islam 05:38  |  I 29/02/08
  131.   Truthteller 70-delusional, hysterical 06:08  |  Stephen in New York 29/02/08
  132.   fritz #28-taking drugs or smoking grass? 06:26  |  ryan 29/02/08
  133.   Response to Stop Killing Palestinians (Marilyn) 07:33  |  Douglas Fireman 29/02/08
  134.   #69phil try some education before bleating 08:16  |  v hardman 29/02/08
  135.   Gazans aren`t starving, they have everything 09:01  |  Khamenei, Nasrala 29/02/08
  136.   For Gordon # 55 09:17  |  Clickfool 29/02/08
  137.   Oh very clever clickfool 09:42  |  Iz Ray Leigh 29/02/08
  138.   Esther and Yishai 09:45  |  x-ray 29/02/08
  139.   Beware of EFPs 09:56  |  Shimon List 29/02/08
  140.   Listen to what they say... 09:58  |  Michael 29/02/08
  141.   a deafeated army will never be able to take gaza 10:10  |  the truth 29/02/08
  142.   The obvious solution 11:39  |  Joseph 29/02/08
  143.   When will the Haaretz editors apologise for pushing Itnatkut? 15:29  |  Ronny 29/02/08
  144.   who`s fault 15:50  |  Mark 29/02/08
  145.   just nuke it. 17:57  |  frenz 29/02/08
  146.   Israel shares escalation responsibility with Hamas 18:58  |  Robert 29/02/08
 Today Online
Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south
Responses: 378
Aanalysis: Uncompromising Hamas is in trouble
Responses: 203
Bradley Burston: True Islam will spell defeat for the Jihadists
Responses: 76
When McCain and Obama face off, Israel may find itself in the eye of the storm
Responses: 106
German Jewish leader urges Merkel to back Israel's stance on Iran
Responses: 50


More Headlines
22:59 Ban: Hezbollah hindering talks on prisoner swap
05:31 Palestinians: Three killed in Gaza clashes between militants, IDF
04:58 Hezbollah says not intimidated by U.S. warship deployment
19:38 Barak: Hamas will pay for its escalation in the south
19:55 Two people lightly wounded in Qassam barrage on Sderot
09:45 Jerusalem & Babylon / Ignoring Durban summit not an option
06:21 UN Security Council vote on fresh Iran sanctions delayed until Monday
21:22 Woman who said was saved from Nazis by wolves admits fabrications
17:31 Court rejects petition against ban on Habash memorial rally
13:27 Britain's Prince Harry withdrawn from Afghanistan due to news leak
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Free the Palestinians from:
Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
Long-term Israel programs
MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel
Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates
7589 rockets fired so far
HELP US TO HELP THEM
Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach
Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
Dead Sea Salt
Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
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 |
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