(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Hirsh Goodman - Digging tunnels is a source of employment for thousands of young Gazans who have no other employment, which also makes them loyal to Hamas and dependant on Hamas. Psychologically, the tunnels have a heavy impact on Israel. These tunnels can allow thirty, forty trained people to enter Israel very quickly to inflict as many casualties as possible, to sow terror by suicide bombings on strategic installations. They can get to Ashdod on a motor bike and set off a mega explosion. Tunnels are the only way they can get into Israel. They don't want to conquer Tel Aviv. They want to send a message that Israelis will never live a normal life. There's no question that Hamas is under tremendous pressure. Their ability to go to war again for fifty days is zero. I think their military leadership was wiped out in the last campaign - the thinking people there. The writer, a former military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, established the program on media strategy at the Institute for National Security Studies.
2016-05-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive