(Maariv International) Amit Cohen- The difference between the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria can be summarized in the words, "Operation Defensive Shield." The massive offensive in March 2002 was a turning point in the strategy of crushing terrorism in Judea and Samaria, but it took the IDF two more years of nearly daily operations within the cities to wipe out the remnants. Yet it is hardly certain that an operation like "Defensive Shield" would change the picture. The situation in the Gaza Strip is completely different, in terms of the quantity of arms, the density and even the fanaticism of the residents. Gaza City is filled to the brim with many tons of explosives and weapons, experienced field commanders, and thousands of Kalashnikov rifles. Even after a large operation, the IDF would still need a long period of local operations in order to reach the third and forth echelons.
2004-06-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive