(Ynet News) Avi Issacharoff - After three months of war against Hamas, voices are calling for stopping the war and retreating. But it's impossible to stop the war now. It would be a grave mistake and a security failure. We can't stop it because Hamas will only increase its demands in the negotiations over the hostages. A complete stop of the fighting and withdrawal from Gaza will lead to the restoration of Hamas' rule there, along with the recovery of its military capabilities. Then, we will see the next Oct. 7 sooner than expected. It's impossible to stop now because Israel has commitments to residents living close to the Gaza and northern borders, who need to return to their homes and be able to live there knowing they're safe. Israel's halt at this time will ruin any chance of a future agreement with the Palestinians and prove to them that Hamas' way is the solution. Any deal that includes an absolute halt in fighting now would pave the way for Israel's own defeat. The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist focusing on Palestinian affairs, is one of the creators of the TV series "Fauda."
2024-01-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive