Israel Matzav

IDF to reliberate redeploy in Gaza

As you can see, I had a little debate with myself about what to title this post. Most of the world probably would have said "reoccupy," but I never regarded the IDF's presence in Gaza as an 'occupation.' I regarded it as a necessary liberation.

Also, you can bet that the government doesn't want to use the word "reoccupy," because to do so would be to admit the total, utter and complete failure of last summer's unilateral disengagement surrender and expulsion plan, which in turn would further jeopardize the government's plan to converge consolidate realign surrender Judea and Samaria and expel all their Jews.

But it looks like the IDF is about to go deeper into Gaza and it is about to do so for the long term. This time, there will be no revenants to give the forces moral and logistical support. However, last night's Kassam on Ashkelon has gotten the government scared about its own ability to survive in office, and so the IDF will be sent in to be sure that Kassams don't come raining down on Kadima Achora and Labor supporters. This isn't Sderot.

This afternoon, the nine-member 'security cabinet' authorized a 'prolonged operation' in Gaza, which is designed to find and free kidnapped IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit and to put a stop to the Kassam attacks on Israel's southern flank. According to the Jerusalem Post, the cabinet approved the following steps:

Striking out at Hamas in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, with an emphasis on hitting institutions and infrastructure that "serve terrorism."

Continuing operations against Kassam rocket fire.

Reducing terrorists' freedom of movement by "bisecting" the Gaza Strip.

Maintaining diplomatic pressure on Syria to ensure Shalit's release.

The Post also notes that the IDF is gearing up to enter the northern portion of the Gaza Strip, and that it will be allowed to enter 'residential areas.' According to the Post, "a buffer zone will be created in the northern part of the Strip in order to prevent Kassam fire," but the army will not 'reoccupy' Gaza. If anyone can explain to me how one creates and maintains a 'buffer zone' without a presence on the ground, I will be happy to reward you with my new (to-be-written) best seller William Jefferson Clinton on the Definition of "is." The bottom line folks is that the IDF is going to be back in Gaza, whether it's called 'reoccupation' or redeployment or whatever other spin Olmert wants to give it. Just so there are no misunderstandings - I think it's absolutely necessary, but I'm willing to call a spade, a spade.

The Post is also reporting that the IDF is reconsidering its earlier refusal to supply Ashkelon - a city with a population of 120,000 - with a "Red Dawn" early warning system as is used in Sderot. Previously, the IDF had said that the warning system would cause unncessary panic in Ashkelon.

YNet notes that the cabinet ministers also decided that the army should avoid, as much as possible, hurting civilian population not engaged in terror, and to try and meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza. Those of you who read this blog regularly already know what I think of that idea.

But the most important point is the following from YNet:

From today, one thing is clear, a political-military source tells Ynet: "Netivot and even Ofakim are in range of the Qassams. In other words, 200 thousand residents of Israel are in danger from Palestinian rockets. There is no doubt that this is a defining event, a new phase that will demand a new solution."

One final word. The Yesha Council - the Council of the Jewish towns of Judea, Samaria and (until recently) Gaza - has been silent since the elections in March. I understand that many analysts have said that they should sit tightly because if they begin to make noise, it will inspire Ehud Olmert to try to pull off his convergence consolidation realignment surrender and expulsion plan for the Jews of Judea and Samaria more quickly, whereas now the plan has no urgency. I would adjust that strategy now, because I believe it may be possible now to start fomenting opposition to the plan to make sure that ultimately it is defeated.

I would do something very simple. I would take the distance from the point where the Kassam was shot (between the former Jewish towns of Nisanit and Dugit) to Ashkelon, and I would graph that distance on a map from the presumed route of the 'security fence.' The graph would show that far more than 200,000 Jews will be in Kassam range if Olmert's plan goes through. Every time the 'Palestinians' shoot another Kassam that goes further, I would revise the maps. I would put them all over the web, all over the bus stops and in every publication that is willing to print them.

People here have to be made to understand: ItIsInOurBackYard.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:10 PM