(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Amos Yadlin - The idea of a hudna - a long-term cease fire - with Hamas in Gaza is not realistic. However, efforts can and must be made to promote more modest understandings, namely, a "limited hudna," including parameters that both Israel and Hamas can live with. A fundamental condition for such an arrangement is a total halt of terror from Gaza and the return of Israeli civilians and bodies of the fallen soldiers held by Hamas. Immediately thereafter it will be possible to promote a plan to improve humanitarian conditions in the Strip, and build infrastructure for electricity, water, sewage, and transport. If the moves toward an arrangement are unsuccessful and Hamas continues to challenge Israel militarily, there will be no choice but to prepare for a broad military operation in Gaza. The minimum objective will be to cause very serious damage to Hamas and reestablish long-term, effective deterrence. The writer, former head of IDF Military Intelligence, is director of INSS.
2018-07-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive