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Hamas' Deadly Attack Has Changed Everything
(Jewish Chronicle-UK) Anshel Pfeffer - Three concepts that have been at the foundation of Israel's military and political policies regarding Gaza and Hamas collapsed on Saturday as hundreds of Hamas fighters stormed across the border and began their bloody rampage through kibbutzim and towns. The first concept was that Hamas has a greater interest in bolstering its rule over Gaza and improving the economy there than in once again inviting destruction on its inhabitants. The second concept was that Israel had already succeeded in denying Hamas nearly all avenues of attack. The massive border fence would prevent incursions over ground. A network of underground sensors would detect tunnels which would then be destroyed. And Israel's Iron Dome would eliminate the missile threat. All these systems worked brilliantly, until they weren't enough to hold back a concerted and coordinated attack on multiple points at the fence, all under the cover of a barrage of rockets. The third concept was that Israel can "shrink the conflict" by minimizing points of friction between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians. That it can create sufficient economic incentives to disincentivize violence among groups like Hamas who are sworn to destroying Israel. This concept has now failed spectacularly. Hamas launched this operation with one main objective - snatching as many Israelis, soldiers and civilians, dead or alive, into Gaza. And have succeeded beyond their wildest imagination. It is not hard to predict they will insist on the release of all 5,200 Palestinian prisoners Israel is currently holding. Hamas has seen in the past how difficult it is for Israelis to accept that their own people are being held captive by the enemy. Israel released over a thousand Palestinian prisoners, including dozens of murderers, one of whom, Yihya Sinwar, is now Hamas chief in Gaza and one of the men directing this operation, in exchange for one IDF sergeant, Gilad Shalit. But Israel may not conform to Hamas' concept this time. Israel is reeling from the worst military setback and tragedy most of its citizens can remember. Hamas has won the first round. But this time it seems that Israel is not going to limit its forces when it embarks on the inevitable attack on Gaza, at least not to the extent it has in the past.