ISRAEL'S RESTRAINT OVER GAZA ATTACKS

Stopping Hamas - Editorial
On Wednesday, the Israeli cabinet decided against launching a major ground operation in Gaza. This is wise because there are four steps that should be taken before launching such an operation.

First, end the policy of military restraint. This means greatly increasing the military pressure on Hamas by attacking known terrorists, their infrastructure and their operational leadership. As expected, Hamas has taken advantage of a period of much reduced IDF pressure to build up its terrorist capabilities. It makes no sense to continue giving Hamas such breathing room, now that its attacks have officially resumed. Second, Israel should consider non-violent sanctions against the PA. If Israelis must run for their lives to bomb shelters, why should Palestinians enjoy an uninterrupted supply of Israeli electricity?

Third, Israel should be forcefully demanding an emergency session of the UN Security Council to condemn the unprovoked aggression by the PA against Israeli territory and citizens. Fourth, Israel must compel Egypt to carry out its most basic responsibility as a sovereign nation that claims to seek peace: stopping the flow of weapons across its own border to Hamas. Egyptian negligence leads to terrorist groups arming to the hilt in preparation for precipitating the next war. (Jerusalem Post)

Israel at the UN: There Is a Limit to Israel's Restraint - Yitzhak Benhorin
The world must not interpret Israel's restraint as an acceptance of the situation, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman told the Security Council on Wednesday. Gillerman asked the Council to "return to reality. That harrowing reality was seen Tuesday when Hamas, by its own account, launched more than 28 Kassam rockets and 61 mortar shells at Israel. The rockets detonated across a large area of land, and as far north as the city of Ashkelon. These attacks, which came as Israelis woke up to celebrate Independence Day, were nothing short of an act of severe provocation."

"Later in the day, we learned that Hamas' fierce rocket fire was just a front, to divert attention away from its truly evil plans, to kidnap an Israeli soldier. Thankfully, the IDF thwarted the kidnapping....Since the ceasefire began at the end of November 2006, Israel has continually exhibited restraint to the more than 200 rockets fired at it by Palestinian terrorists....Israel needs no further evidence to know that Hamas' ways are not the ways of peace. Hamas has shown it will not stop its campaign of terror until its unholy ambitions of destroying Israel are fulfilled. Nothing - no initiatives, summits, or declarations - can take the place of an end to Palestinian terror." (Ynet News)

See also Israel's Statement to the UN Security Council - Ambassador Dan Gillerman (United Nations)

No Gaza Operation for Now - Ron Ben-Yishai
Hamas' Independence Day attack was a highly calculated strategic move meant to achieve far-reaching military and diplomatic objectives, based on the Hizbullah model of July 12, 2006, when two IDF soldiers were kidnapped. The objective was to fan the flames of conflict in Gaza in order to create a new situation whereby Israel agrees to end its counter-terror operations in the West Bank. At the same time, since no soldiers were abducted and there were no casualties on our side, Israel would find it difficult to enlist international support and silent agreement by moderate Arab leaders for a wide-scale Gaza operation.

The Independence Day offensive was a Hamas initiative undertaken without any substantive cause in order to undermine diplomatic peace efforts. The IDF is able and ready to carry out a wide-scale operation in Gaza even today, but this must be done under circumstances that would ensure its success. (Ynet News)

Palestinian Rocket Fire Continues
Palestinians in Gaza fired a Kassam rocket at the western Negev Thursday morning. (Reuters/Ynet News)