Israel’s no-win, no-lose Gaza policy has too many layers to be scrapped in a hurry

The “containment” policy for Gaza instated by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the previous chief of staff Gady Eisenkot, consisting of tit-for-tat for terror within bounds, has never been a workable strategy since it draws on six misconceptions:

  1. That the Gaza Strip and its Palestinian Hamas terrorist rulers can be prevented from attacking Israel by enclosing and isolating the enclave with high security barriers.
  2. That Hamas terrorists can be tamed by feeding them large sums of cash for bolstering their rule over two million inhabitants.
  3. This policy became entangled in considerations and processes with no direct bearing on Israel’s security – for instance, the Middle East peace policy pursued by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. It has never been established for sure that Kushner’s project jives fully with presidential policy. Another complicating factor was – and is – Egyptian President Abdel-Fatteh El-Sisi’s relations in the region and the Gulf – not to mention the feud between Qatar and the Saudi-UAE alliance, and Qatar’s ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey.
  4. The Netanyahu government consistently avoided holding Hamas-Gaza responsible – or retaliating – for terrorist atrocities it staged in Judea and Samaria, pretending there was no connection.
  5. Policy-makers let Hamas’ active operational ties with Iran and Hizballah ride as of little consequence, even though its leading officials run a terrorist campaign against Israel from a war room in Beirut.
  6. The IDF conducts regular operations against foes outside its borders – covertly, by air and by missile – but not inside Gaza. There, the IDF confines itself to limited reprisals against inconsequential sites, guided by two considerations:
    (a) Keeping Hamas loss of life down, especially among the members of its armed wing, Ezz e-Din al-Qassam.
    (b) Minimizing the damage to Hamas’ military infrastructure

All these dos and don’ts were not set forth as a cogent program or policy but put together bit by bit as patches that were stuck on piecemeal whenever security crises sprang up and called for fast solutions to avert a major flare-up. In the past two years, such cases recurred whenever Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad decided to release massive rocket barrages against the Israeli population. Even then, both sides kept within certain red lines to avoid a major conflagration: Hamas took care to aim its rockets mainly against peripheral southern districts – not big towns – except for some isolated incidents, as insurance against painful Israeli retaliation.

This standoff has had the effect of tying Israel’s hands and confining its military leeway within a kind of tacitly accepted framework called “containment,” which leaves the initiative with Hamas. This convention enables the terrorist organization to go into action in support of new demands for concessions and benefits, knowing that Israel will agree to terms in order to keep the framework intact.

On Sunday, Aug. 16, a day after the latest Hamas rocket attack drew forth no IDF response, Netanyahu said on his way to Ukraine that the IDF is dealing with the Gaza situation on purely rational and security grounds, and should a major operation become necessary it would take place irrespective of campaigning for the Sept. 17 general election. His message was mostly addressed to the rivals racing him to the ballot. Those rivals, including the generals-turned politicians who lead Blue-White, were party to that selfsame policy before they shed their uniforms. Now they accuse PM Netanyahu of weakness in combating Palestinian terror and vow to launch a large-scale military operation against Gaza as soon as they remove him from power.

DEBKAfile affirms that neither Netanyahu’s remarks nor those of his rivals count for much: the situation with Hamas has sprouted too many complications to be disentangled any time soon. Israel’s political and diplomatic policies have become prisoners of this self-made “containment” framework. It would take a new and mighty force to smash this frame and unshackle Israel and its military from their no-win, no-lose posture towards radical Palestinian terrorists.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

41 thoughts on “Israel’s no-win, no-lose Gaza policy has too many layers to be scrapped in a hurry

  • Aug 18, 2019 @ 21:53 at 21:53
    Permalink

    Five Jews were hospitalized after American, Captain Thomas Woodworth run them over during their protest in front of Rhode Island detention facility.

    The five injured included three minors. Two victims suffered serious injuries including broken limbs and internal bleeding.

    Capt. Woodworth has since resigned from his post and is under criminal investigation.

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 5:15 at 5:15
      Permalink

      Leftist playing stupid games laying down in front of trucks and traffic win stupid prizes.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 21:46 at 21:46
        Permalink

        Captain Woodworth should have been driving a Steamroller.

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 15:30 at 15:30
      Permalink

      Only deranged left wing nuts could compare a detention facility housing repeat illegal entrants, providing catered food, 24 hr.medical staff, good recreational facilities etc with concentration camps. For Trump hatred among angry and rageful jews unable to address their personal deficiencies to so overwhelm rational thinking is a shocking disgrace. I can understand how law enforcement personnel can snap at the constant abuse
      doing their jobs to protect to people who live in the US legally.

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 22:05 at 22:05
      Permalink

      Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their Country!

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 22:24 at 22:24
      Permalink

      Last month i have made and received $7826 by working online from home in my part time.
      I am a student and was doing this in my free time for 3 to 4 hrs a day using my laptop.
      Very simple and easy to do work and regular earning from this are just awesome.
      Now every person can get this and start making money online by following steps on this website…

      Check it our here>>> w­­w­­w­­.­­w­­o­­r­­k­­s­­3­­9­­.­­c­­o­­mℬ

      The Word ” ℬ ” is not with web address.

  • Aug 18, 2019 @ 21:57 at 21:57
    Permalink

    We must support our fellow Jewish Brothers!

    neveragainaction.com

  • Aug 18, 2019 @ 22:09 at 22:09
    Permalink

    So why were the 5 Jews protesting outside a detention facility? Are they against America enforcing its borders and immigration laws?

    • Aug 18, 2019 @ 22:20 at 22:20
      Permalink

      Here. Mission Statement of Never Again Action should explain Jon;

      “We’ve been taught the signs by our ancestors. As our government runs concentration camps, and rounds up and cages our neighbors, we are called to speak out: #NeverAgainIsNow. Please join us and our immigrant allies in the fight to #ShutDownICE, #CloseTheCamps and stop the roundups and deportations”.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 0:14 at 0:14
        Permalink

        The detention camps are for people who have broken US law by entering our country illegally, unlike my Jewish great great grandparents who came legally thru Ellis Island.

        • Aug 19, 2019 @ 1:18 at 1:18
          Permalink

          What is your point? The protesters were run over by a Captain driving his pickup truck!

          • Aug 19, 2019 @ 5:32 at 5:32
            Permalink

            People that play in traffic are stupid. That’s the point.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 1:23 at 1:23
        Permalink

        How dare are you to compare? Nobody forth them into these camps, they came and stay voluntarily. They may go back home or to any third country at any time. What is the business of these Jews to disrupt the Government operation and create disorder? They play with fire for a no reason. My grand parents and parents were Holocaust survivors, many relatives were victims, and I’m deeply offended by the action of these people and your comparison.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 3:04 at 3:04
        Permalink

        Jews are usually considered smart, but you guys are idiots. I wouldn’t come close or touch you with a 10 foot pole.

        • Aug 19, 2019 @ 3:38 at 3:38
          Permalink

          these shtskns?

          Eichah 4:7

          Her Nazirites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, their appearance was ruddier than coral, [and] sapphire was their form.

          8[But now] their appearance has become darker than charcoal, they are not recognized in the streets; their skin is shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 5:06 at 5:06
        Permalink

        Allow free entry into the US let every low life murderer rapist child molester paedophile pimp.let even former ISIS members in and make it a free for all…In the meantime stuff the homeless US Vets they can keep living like beggars on the streets….These deluded Peace groups are the US and Israel’s worst enemies…

        • Aug 19, 2019 @ 11:49 at 11:49
          Permalink

          So well said, Jarred.
          It all proves what Dr. Michael Savage said in the past on his radio program “Savage Nation”:

          “Liberalism is a mental illness”.

          He was so right and this mental illness known as liberalism affects people of all races, backgrounds and religions, including, but certainly not limited to, Jewish people.
          It’s time to wake up before it’s too late!

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 5:19 at 5:19
        Permalink

        Leftist who support BDS and the invasion of the USA should be deported along with the illegals.

        • Aug 19, 2019 @ 22:45 at 22:45
          Permalink

          They should be forced to indemnify the nation against risk by personally sponsoring them. Sorted.

  • Aug 18, 2019 @ 22:18 at 22:18
    Permalink

    “Sunday, Aug. 16, a day”
    Aug. 16 was not a Sunday on planet earth,
    So Debka needs to get its facts right, much like most of the other errors in this blog.

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 4:04 at 4:04
      Permalink

      Grow up.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 14:02 at 14:02
        Permalink

        If you’re born stupid . . . . it lasts a long time.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 16:17 at 16:17
        Permalink

        Sam,
        When children grow up they like to see facts not errors.
        If I can demonstrate one error there are many more to be discovered like the last blogger stated.
        So probably it is Sam who needs to grow up.

  • Aug 18, 2019 @ 22:31 at 22:31
    Permalink

    There will never be peace until we start treating everyone as equal before the law and remove the racism inherent in our society.

    Zionism and the excuse that the horrors of WW2 have combined to facilitate the theft of land and to deny the rights of the population who have lived there for centuries.

    Are we at all surprised when they choose to fight back in whatever way they can when we deny them equality before the law and see them as little more than a inconvenience to our nationalistic desires.

    We wail against the horrors of Germany and yet choose to follow the same standards.

    Shame on us, how will we be viewed by future generations.

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 9:16 at 9:16
      Permalink

      Don t pretend to be a Jew you Natzi Coward Troll and you definitely ain’t our brother you chameleon snake!@$

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 12:04 at 12:04
      Permalink

      @Achim,

      B_U_L_L_F_E_A_T_H_E_R_S!

      The Jewish people have not stolen another people’s land……………….the Land of Israel has rightfully belonged to the Jewish people for well over 3000 years and the archeology and surviving documentation proves it!

  • Aug 19, 2019 @ 0:06 at 0:06
    Permalink

    @Achim.
    there will NEVER be peace in this scene. The Prince of Peace was crucified. When he returns, then there will be peace and not before, Guaranteed.

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 2:37 at 2:37
      Permalink

      when the king returns

    • Aug 19, 2019 @ 12:14 at 12:14
      Permalink

      @ “John 3:16”,

      The Rabbi you refer to was crucified by Roman authorities 2000 years ago and has not been heard from since.
      When the time comes, we’ll all get to see who actually does it.

      • Aug 19, 2019 @ 18:05 at 18:05
        Permalink

        Wrong, he arose from the dead and appeared to the disciples. He appeared to Hakhan Sha’ul from Parthenia, on the road to Damascus. He appeared to saint John and gave him a revelation. His every man. He is the face of G-d and the king of kings.

        Yeshayahu- Isaiah – Chapter 52

        15. ………kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for, what had not been told them they saw, and [at] what they had not heard they gazed.

        [pre]C. a. The heavens
        b. are telling
        c. the glory of God:
        c. and the work of his hands
        b. is setting forth
        a. the firmament.

        D. d. Day after day
        e. uttereth speech,
        d. And night after night
        e. sheweth knowledge.

        E. f. There is no speech (what is articulate)
        g. and there are no words; (what is audible)
        g. and without being audible, (what is audible).
        f. is their voice (what is articulate).

        D. h. Into all the earth (as created)
        i. is their line gone forth;
        h. And into the ends of the world (as inhabited)
        i. Their sayings.

        C. j. For the sun He hath set a tent (an abode) in them;
        k. l. and he as a bridegroom (comparison)
        m. is going forth from his canopy, (motion: its rising)
        l. he rejoiceth as a mighty one (comparison)
        m. to run his course. (Motion: its rapid course.)
        k. n. From the end of the heavens (egress)
        o. is his going forth, (egress)
        o. and his revolution (regress)
        n. unto their ends: (regress)
        j. and there is nothing hid from his head

        • Aug 20, 2019 @ 11:54 at 11:54
          Permalink

          @ “YeSHua SaR HaPaNim” (or whatever you like to call yourself),

          Isaiah 52 (or anywhere else in Isaiah) does not refer to the Rabbi Jesus at all.
          Those claiming to have seen and/or spoken to the Rabbi Jesus at any time after the Romans crucified him only claim to have done so but their claims do not reflect reality.
          It was just so nice for you to regurgitate everything you learned in Sunday school here on Debka so now you can finish that ham sandwich you started earlier.

  • Aug 19, 2019 @ 2:57 at 2:57
    Permalink

    If Israel acted like Syria, Iran, Russia or Turkey the Gaza problem would go away along with 2 million dead Gaza Arabs. But Israel is a civilized and democratic country so the ping-pong war will continue.

  • Aug 19, 2019 @ 8:53 at 8:53
    Permalink

    The Strangely Timing of Reevaluation of Strategy is Interesting. Iran & 4 Unreliable Puppet Proxies know if the Iran Regime is Changed they are next with Global Isolation Confrontation much as what happen to Al-Qaeda, ISIS, & Brotherhood. This is why IDF has been Preparing 3-4 Front Conflict. The Iranian Foreign Office intelligence is Actually has little Signs of intelligence for a very Long Time. They have Eggs & Spoons Races without any Spoons. IRGC Habits are Habits under Regime Rules are Rules coming to Discover Life is not a Game of Backgammon but bit of a Nuisance Problem realizing Winning is always Won on the Back Game. Only Barbarians play Against the Wall, as the World is changing along with Heads of State that are Not Aberrations Nor in Season of Sunsets. New National Leaders are more in Abundance & Protected much like Ospreys. The Day’s of Global Elite Sheep Taught Not to be Provocative are over & Fortune Follows the Bold!

  • Aug 19, 2019 @ 11:09 at 11:09
    Permalink

    To the terrorstinisns and killerstinians: Go back to your homes and make lives for youselves instead of following the antisemitic death cult of Islamic terrorism.

  • Aug 19, 2019 @ 11:26 at 11:26
    Permalink

    most of the comment here are for another incident.

    but thank you Debka for tell us about the screw up with Israeli policy in Gaza.

  • Aug 20, 2019 @ 2:47 at 2:47
    Permalink

    Israel needs to take over Gaza and eliminate Hamas in short order with precision and remove all Palestinians to Jordan. Then they can better focus on Syria, Hezbollah, and Iran.

  • Aug 20, 2019 @ 5:22 at 5:22
    Permalink

    The Global Elites say, why Prolong a Ludicrous Debate? Sign & Israel will become a Natural Leader, Amongst the Rats & the Rabbits. So, Europe’s Captain & Kings decide Israel Fate between their Pawns & Paws! Sign the Paper, Think Later, Do What is Right for the EU, Not Israel! Israel thinks out loud with just 2 Words…. Never Again! GingerST001

  • Aug 20, 2019 @ 5:30 at 5:30
    Permalink

    The Middle East End Games are always known as Stalemates Not Played as Bluffs Gracefully Accomplished. Unlike Iran & Proxies always Burrowing their Way Out by some Ingeniously Route, that only Respects Power & Brute Force Jungle Signs of Sporting Stalk? In other words, for Minds being at Peace requires Moods of the Hearts for a Sensible Atmosphere Conducive to Reason, not reliance on others. GingerST001

  • Aug 20, 2019 @ 6:13 at 6:13
    Permalink

    Just Happy Jesus was raised in Judaism Scriptures and Founded a Religion of Forgiveness among Jewish Apostles often Misinterpreted at Times by Imperfect Men trying to define a “More Perfect Union” by Design?

    • Aug 20, 2019 @ 12:17 at 12:17
      Permalink

      @GingerST001,

      It certainly is very true that the Rabbi Jesus was raised in the Jewish faith and he embraced it totally, even if it was the Rabbi’s opinion (and that of his immediate followers) that he could fulfill the prophecies. What happened later with the establishment of a new religion resulted in an ideology that the Rabbi Jesus would be totally unable to relate to, even in its earliest form let alone what it has evolved to today.
      Note that forgiveness has been well established in Judaism and that’s where the Rabbi Jesus learned it from.

Comments are closed.