DRASTIC MEASURES TO STOP ROCKET ATTACKS

Drastic Measures Needed to Curb Rocket Attacks on Sderot - Giora Eiland (Ynet News)
Prior to any discussion regarding our handling of the rocket fire from Gaza, three key assumptions should be made.

• The rocket fire cannot be halted by aerial operations only.
• Without changing the situation along the Gaza-Egypt border, Hamas will continue to boost its military force.
• The reality in Sderot is unbearable.

If the rocket fire cannot be stopped remotely from the air, how can it be stopped?

Option A: Capturing areas in the Gaza Strip, particularly the Philadelphi Route - while not sufficing with capturing the Route, which is too narrow to protect, and widening it. Israel would insist that it would withdraw its troops only if and when a satisfactory security arrangement is hammered out. Israel should reach an agreement on it with the U.S. prior to such an operation.

Option B: Israel announces that as far as it is concerned Gaza is a political entity (separate from the West Bank) which is ruled formally by Hamas. As this entity is in a state of war with Israel, Israel would have to take three measures:

• Immediately close off border crossings between Israel and Gaza (as Gaza is open to Egypt, supplies to and from Gaza could be transferred through there).
• Announce that in several months Israel would cease to supply water, electricity and fuel.
• Since Gaza is an enemy state in a state of war with Israel, every governing institution in Gaza and the infrastructure serving the belligerent effort against us, including roads and bridges, should be targeted.

There is no choice but to take a political risk, to anger several players and to force them to take action as well.