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Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-775425
Israel's Emotional Whirlwind with the Hostage Release
(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - Hamas head Yahya Sinwar is obviously trying to capitalize on the emotions in Israel that the hostage release has unleashed. His hope is that in this emotional whirlwind, Israel will lose its compass, be blinded by the emotional upheaval, perhaps crippled by it and give in or give up, saying enough is enough, it's time to end the war and pay any price, including the price of ending the war, to win the release of the remaining 166 hostages. But he misreads the mood in Israel. Sinwar thinks that the emotions engendered by the hostage release, together with international pressure, will turn this temporary pause in the war into a complete stop. But beyond emotions, Israelis - like everyone - are driven by a will to survive, an instinct that compels them to take actions aimed at ensuring that survival. And most Israelis understand now better than ever that to survive in this cruel region, Hamas must be roundly defeated - a goal that has yet to be achieved.