I was relatively unimpressed with Netanyahu's statement, warning actually, at a conference with ambassadors yesterday.
Netanyahu warned:
If we are attacked from the tunnels in the Gaza Strip we will act with very great strength against Hamas, and with much greater strength even than that of Operation Protective Edge,We have yet to deal that death blow to Hamas or Gaza. However badly we hit them in Operation Protective Edge, they don't seem to have been affected all that much. They are still living their lives, they are rebuilding their infrastructure, they seem relatively unintimidated by Israel, they are rebuilding their network of tunnels crossing Israel's border. They use the images of a destroyed Gaza to their benefit in fundraising and sympathy-raising, so it is to their benefit if Israel hits them hard.
So, threatening Hamas with a reminder of protective Edge, is not any great shakes. They lived through Protective Edge and that did not scare them enough to stop preparing for the next round.
The question is, what is Israel doing now to destroy the terror tunnels? Why does Hamas seem to continue to develop their tunnel network with the weather being their greatest impediment - where is Israel in this story? Why is Netanyahu's threat only "if we are attacked from the tunnels" - is he ok with the tunnels themselves, and the potential they hold, just not if they are actually put to use?
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During a recent trip to Israel I got the impression from speaking with folks that the situation is very much like it was in September 1973. Everyone figures that the army is doing something but keeping quiet about it, that they're ready for Hamas and have plans for protecting from the tunnels. No one has any actual proof but everyone knows someone in the army who assured him that things are under control.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember what happened in 1973 the Israeli were completely surprised and overwhelmed I hope it's not like 1973
ReplyDeleteIt's not like 1973, because the PA Arabs/Hamas do not have 'mass destruction' weapons like jets and howitzers. They still can induce localized massacres.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is that the tunnels are no longer a surprise, we already fought a war against 'them' and have developed skills to handle tunnel warfare.
So Hamas can build some tunnels, and we might only be faulty in estimating how many and where, but they are not an existential threat.
Given that, I do not know if the army knows where the current tunnels are and if it is a benefit to expose them now or wait.