IMRA note: Shlomo Gazit, General (ret.) is a leading and prominent member
of the Israeli ex-brass in the Israeli "Peace Camp"
Even if we take the optimistic point of view and assume that IDF forces
won't leave the Gaza Strip unless we know that all the attack tunnels, to
the very last one, were destroyed (and I make this assumption despite the
clear cut assertion of IDF officials that they cannot ensure this), what is
to prevent Hamas forces from repairing the damage and digging new tunnels,
on new routes, tens or hundreds of meters alongside the previous route? Our
battle against Hamas will not end on 2014. The new tunnels could be for
offensive operation in 2016 or 2017.
We have neither attacked nor defeated Hamas. If we fail to hurt the Hamas
leadership with such damage that they are unable to restore and renew their
military capabilities – or alternatively reach an agreement with Hamas – we
have not achieved anything. To reiterate – Hamas will succeed to organize
and be better prepared for Operation Protective Edge 2, in a year, two years
or three years. Hamas will do its very best to make it difficult for the IDF
to re-enter.
And on another front, and I will not elaborate, it is very possible that the
international community will be less sympathetic to Israel in the next war.
This is a serious and existential threat facing us today and this threat
must be destroyed today.
The battle against the tunnels will not stop this threat and will not
disrupt it.
It only diverted us from addressing the major threat before us.
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IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il
