Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 19, 2008 Adar2 13, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:40 (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

Islamic Jihad militants at the funeral of Tair al-Basiuni who was killed by an IDF tank shell in northern Gaza in September last year. (Reuters) Last update - 09:34 16/03/2008 ANALYSIS: Say goodbye to quiet after Gaza militant deaths By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: israel, IDF, islamic jihad  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 Saturday. 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. 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. Advertisement 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. Related articles: IDF kills 5 Palestinian militants in two West Bank incidents At least 30 Qassam rockets fired into Israel from Gaza since Wed. Abbas: Israel has agreed to cease-fire with Hamas Islamic Jihad: We are firing rockets in bid to sabotage Gaza truce Bookmark to del.icio.us   My three homelands French Vogue chose Lizzie Doron as one of Israel's influential authors. President Barghouti Jailed Tanzim leader says he's considering running in next PA presidential elections.   1.   Terrorists 02:48  |  Paul 16/03/08   2.   Not suppressing is not "allowing" 03:02  |  F. Teich 16/03/08   3.   no sh*t? 03:10  |  ah duh? 16/03/08   4.   One more success of the Left 04:07  |  Frank 16/03/08   5.   murder inc 04:30  |  Shmuelshachor 16/03/08   6.   Hamas does not want peace. 06:03  |  US CITIZEN 16/03/08   7.   Olmert should wake up and realize peace will never happen 07:49  |  Olmert has no balls 16/03/08   8.   Hudna will save lives, but only momentarily 08:15  |  Proud Israeli 16/03/08   9.   The Northern Gaza 09:19  |  Vital 16/03/08   10.   2: An anonymous person using my name? Interesting 09:46  |  David Teich 16/03/08   11.   Idiotic Haaretz sees this as our fault 09:53  |  SLAVO 16/03/08   12.   4.Frank,you might be right in a bizarre sort of way! 10:46  |  lakshmi 16/03/08   13.   Of course 11:16  |  Clickfool 16/03/08   14.   Because there would be no qassam rockets 11:23  |  Janet 16/03/08   15.   #13 Clickfool shows ignorance about military campaigns 11:45  |  US CITIZEN 16/03/08   16.   WHAT quiet? Hamas chose to restart firing from Gaza.IDF halted 12:06  |  PETER SM 16/03/08   17.   Israel: KEEP TARGETING TERROR LEADERSHIP 12:51  |  Nechama 16/03/08   18.   Vital #9 very good question 13:16  |  Sol 16/03/08   19.   Israel fights the war of the West. 13:27  |  Jean Van Daem 16/03/08   20.   For US Citizen # 15 13:46  |  Clickfool 16/03/08   21.   CFOOL Of course the tens of thousands of Pals under arms 14:08  |  PETER SM 16/03/08   22.   Clickfool for Defence Minister. 14:24  |  MR 16/03/08   23.   Islamic jihad retaliate for its own fighters . israel does not re 14:53  |  Gisele 16/03/08   24.   For ridiculous Jean van Daem # 19 15:05  |  Clickfool 16/03/08   25.   Gisele of Beirut.....Lebanese Army 16:12  |  Lynn 16/03/08   26.   24: Clickfool, always busy lying 18:22  |  David Teich 19/03/08

Today Online Tom Segev: Merkel slams Qassams, but ignores Israel's actions Responses: 178 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal for long-term Gaza truce Responses: 58 High Court closes off use of major highway to Palestinians Responses: 117 Study finds Israeli Jews increasingly racist toward Arabs Responses: 138 Security forces fear double Hezbollah attack in Israel, abroad Responses: 80 Rosner's Domain McCain rep to Jewish crowd: Christian right 'serious problem' Were Shakespeare's Plays Written By A Jewish Woman? (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Did Iraq have ties to Al Qaeda? (WTR) More Headlines 18:23 McCain in Sderot: Rocket attacks demand response 17:30 J'lem police chief: Cop on duty should've stopped yeshiva attacker 16:34 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal on long-term Gaza tuce 18:18 Obama at oratorical best, but Wright saga still not over 17:32 Water Authority: Israel must act to avoid humanitarian crisis 10:07 Security forces fear double Hezbollah revenge attack in Israel, abroad 10:53 High Court closes off use of major highway to Palestinians 10:09 Study: Israeli Jews becoming increasingly racist toward Arabs 15:50 Finance Min.: We won't hesitate to act against dropping dollar 10:09 New Meretz chair: We won't join Olmert's government 14:31 Hamas refuses Fatah demand it cede Gaza control for reconciliation 12:41 Senior Abbas adviser suspected of smuggling phones to Jordan Previous Editions Select Day 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar

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