Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 17, 2008 Adar2 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:57 (EST+7) 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 - 01:44 16/03/2008 Say good-bye to quiet By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff In practice, the lull ended last Wednesday, when Israeli forces killed five wanted Palestinians in the West Bank and Islamic Jihad responded by firing rockets at Sderot. But even though numerous rockets were fired on Thursday, Israel exercised restraint until yesterday. There were many reasons for this, including the weather, which made aerial operations difficult. But the bottom line is that the Israel Defense Forces and Islamic Jihad have resumed fighting. Hamas, in contrast, is thus far keeping a low profile: It is not firing rockets itself, but neither is it trying to stop Islamic Jihad from doing so. Advertisement Egypt will continue its mediation efforts this week. But the gaps between the parties on critical issues (opening the Gaza border crossings, continued IDF operations in the West Bank) seem difficult to bridge. Over the weekend, a bullet fired by Hamas hit an Israeli helicopter over Gaza. Hamas exulted, while the IDF dismissed it as a single bullet that caused no significant damage. Yet that was largely luck: A single bullet in the right spot can down a helicopter. The incident shows two things. First, Hamas, which has adopted the combat doctrine used by Hezbollah in south Lebanon, is seeking symbolic achievements that will deter the IDF and bolster Gaza residents' fighting spirit. Second, even though the organization apparently has a few advanced Strela anti-aircraft missiles (SA-7s), it is currently sticking to the anti-aircraft guns that it seized from Fatah forces when it took over the Strip last June. Possibly the missiles are being reserved for a period of more intense conflict - for instance, should Israel decide to reoccupy parts of Gaza. But, in any case, the air force is acting on the assumption that such missiles may be used against it and taking suitable precautions. Air power continues to constitute a key part of IDF operations in Gaza. About half of all armed Palestinians killed by Israel last year - including more than 60 percent in Gaza - died in aerial strikes. By comparison, the air force accounted for only 5 percent of Palestinian deaths in 2002. At the same time, IDF statistics show a steady improvement in the terrorist-to-civilian fatality ratio from aerial assaults: Last year, it stood at 24:1, up from 1:1 four years earlier. The air force has benefited from close cooperation with the IDF Southern Command and greatly improved intelligence from the Shin Bet security service. But nobody is under any illusion that air power can stop the Qassams. All the relevant bodies acknowledge that a significant reduction in the rocket fire can be achieved only by a prolonged presence of ground forces in the parts of northern Gaza that serve as launching zones - which is liable to result in numerous IDF casualties. The lesson of Lebanon has been learned; the problem is the implementation. The connection between the Lebanese and Palestinian theaters was once again proved on Friday, when Hezbollah promised financial assistance to the widow of Mohammed Shehadeh, the Islamic Jihad operative killed by Israel on Wednesday. Shehadeh was buried in a Hezbollah flag. It seems that Hezbollah is no longer even trying to hide its ties with Palestinian terror groups. The Palestinian Authority is aware of this connection, and its security services say they have arrested several West Bank residents with ties to Hezbollah. However, they did not arrest Shehadeh, despite knowing that Israel was stepping up its efforts to capture him. PA officials also believe Hezbollah was behind the terrorist attack at Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva 10 days ago. Currently, the capabilities of the PA security services vary widely in different parts of the West Bank. In northern cities such as Jenin, Nablus and Tubas, which used to be the worst trouble spots, the PA has had some significant success against Islamic terror groups. But in southern cities such as Hebron and Bethlehem, which had previously been considered calmer, the PA is having trouble coping with the terrorists. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The Chancellor's visit Angela Merkel arrives in Israel to 'open new chapter' in bilateral ties. London paying Netanyahu says PR trip to U.K. wasn't funded by Israeli taxpayer.

Today Online IAF resumes Gaza strikes, kills 3 Islamic Jihad men Responses: 172 Gideon Levy: Barak trying his best to ruin peace process Responses: 96 Netanyahu: I acted for the state, not at its expense Responses: 93 Obama asked to explain after his minister 'damns' America Responses: 135 More Headlines 02:48 Next IAF chief: Presence of IDF in Gaza will stop rocket manufacture 23:04 22 rightists detained after storming E. J'lem village 21:56 PA to rebuild home of W. Bank militant leader killed in IDF raid 02:56 Ashkelon to have longer warning time before rocket fall 19:12 Paris fair honoring Israeli writers briefly vacated after bomb alert 23:10 Jews, Arabs, Americans join Jerusalem Palm Sunday march 23:28 Holocaust survivors march from Krakow ghetto to mark 65 years since liquidation 19:17 Merkel arrives in Israel to 'open new chapter' in bilateral ties 19:31 Fischer: Bank of Israel to avoid meddling in int'l currency market 18:52 Syrian FM: Israel gained most from Mughniyah's assassination 14:02 Report: Eichmann intervened to save 800 Jews in Berlin in WW2 18:38 Obama asked to explain after his minister 'damns' America 16:29 Cheney en route to Mideast for 9-day visit with regional leaders Previous Editions Select Day 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer READY FOR PURIM? BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch? 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 FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3 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 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