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A New Reality Needed on the Gaza-Egypt Border
(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - Israel cannot allow Hamas' tunnel network to stay in place in Gaza. Israel must make it clear that as long as there are tunnels, the war will continue. In addition, it is clear that arms smuggling into Gaza cannot be prevented without effective control over the Philadelphi Route and the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Supervision mechanisms and reliance on other arrangements have always turned out to be a resounding failure. As long as there is a free flow of weaponry from Sinai to Gaza, it will not be possible to ensure the demilitarization of the strip. An effective buffer between Gaza and Egypt will serve not only Israel's security needs but will also contribute to Egypt's national security - it will prevent Hamas terrorists in Gaza from reaching Egyptian territory. Hamas is the strongest armed group in the Muslim Brotherhood, a bitter foe of the regime in Egypt. There is no reason why Hamas should be allowed to continue controlling the distribution of aid. This allows it to maintain power and govern. To topple Hamas' rule, Israel must prevent it from having a grip on the distribution and other resources that only help it cement its status as the governing authority of Gaza. This is the only way that will lead to a real collapse of the regime in Gaza. Victory over Hamas requires creating a reality in the strip that will not allow the resurgence of terrorist elements. Such a fundamental change requires Israel to act with resolve and over a long period, without standing with a stopwatch in hand. The writer, head of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem, served as Israel's National Security Advisor and head of the National Security Council.