[ Jerusalem Post] Yaakov Katz - There are a number of reasons behind the decision not to launch an operation in Gaza. First, Israel does not want to insult Egyptian President Mubarak. Israel values its strategic ties with Egypt, one of the few Arab and Muslim countries that have formalized ties with Jerusalem. Secondly, if Israel had rejected the offer and embarked on an operation, it would have been perceived as the aggressor since Hamas would be able to claim that it was prepared for a truce but Israel was not. Lastly, there remains the question of an exit strategy following an invasion of the Strip. Fatah is incapable of returning to control Gaza, and the likelihood of a multinational force deploying there remains slim.
2008-06-12 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive