Israel Matzav

IDF searches for 'more options' against Kassams - Olmert has taken away all the ones that work

An IDF 'senior officer' told the Jerusalem Post that the army is seeking 'more options' against Kassams after nine of them hit the western Negev this weekend. Although the 'officer' doesn't say it, the reason is quite simple: Ehud K. Olmert has taken away all the options that work.

Despite Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision last week to allow the Southern Command to target rocket cells, the Kassams were fired without any intervention from the IDF. The rockets lightly damaged buildings in Sderot and other Israeli communities just outside the Gaza Strip, although one of them landed in Palestinian Authority territory.

...

In the past, before the policy of restraint took effect, the IDF was allowed to fire artillery shells at Kassam launch sites in the northern Gaza Strip, from where the rockets are fired at Sderot and other southern communities. The IDF is currently not allowed to fire artillery shells. Therefore, Palestinian terrorists have freedom of movement inside Palestinian villages in the area.

IDF sources explained that the actual targeting of Kassam cells was very difficult and was not automatic.

"Just because we have the orders does not mean that we are able to thwart the attacks," explained an officer in the Southern Command.

The officer said that IDF soldiers rarely succeeded in thwarting Kassam attacks before the rockets were fired, and generally had an opportunity to attack the terrorists only after they launched rockets.

"This is a very difficult process that requires advanced technological means and perfect coordination between IDF branches," the officer said.

It doesn't require any "advanced technological means." It requires the IDF to be on the ground in Gaza. If that were to happen, there would be no more Kassams. But Ehud K. Olmert, Amir Comrade Peretz amd Tzipi Feigele Livni aren't sending the IDF into Gaza. They are continuing to fiddle and wait for the United Nations 'Human Rights Council' to send Bishop Desmond Tutu to investigate. And Israel continues to burn.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:36 AM