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There Is No Rafah Workaround

(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - The Americans are seeking to discuss alternatives to an Israeli military operation in Rafah. They will not disagree on the necessity of dismantling Hamas' Rafah Brigade. They will also support the demand for effective control over the border with Egypt to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza. They will likely present an alternative to a large-scale military operation that will include several components: First, American support for Israeli offensive air operations and limited ground raids on targets in the Rafah area; second, a mechanism for Israeli-Egyptian coordination, with the support of the U.S. and other countries, to prevent smuggling across the border. As for toppling Hamas, the entry of Palestinian Authority elements into Gaza is likely their envisioned solution. However, based on past experience, it is not possible to uproot Hamas and strip it of its military capabilities solely through air operations or limited raids. As for international mechanisms to prevent the smuggling of weapons, such initiatives have been attempted for years. Despite the good intentions and serious commitments made, the attempts failed miserably. There is no reason to assume that the results will be different this time. Meanwhile, IDF activity on the ground continues to deliver results. The IDF raid on Shifa Hospital in Gaza serves to demonstrate that Israel is determined to continue the mission in Gaza without compromise. The writer, a former Israeli national security advisor, is chairman of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem.
2024-03-24 00:00:00
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