At this very hour, four weeks ago, Israel entered Operation Cast Lead. The following Saturday, on the eighth day of the Operation, Israeli ground forces entered Gaza. Two weeks later, Israel had declared a unilateral ceasefire (2AM on Sunday, 1/18/2009). On Wednesday, January 21st, the IDF Spokesperson sent out the following announcement:
Last IDF Soldiers Leave the Gaza Strip
This morning, the last IDF soldiers left the Gaza Strip and returned to Israel.
The forces are now redeployed outside the Gaza Strip, and are prepared for any development.
It was as if by cue from Washington, DC: The soon-to-be President expected there to be no noise from Gaza during his historical inauguration. Israel, a sovereign country, embarked on this Operation to achieve two goals: bring quiet and safety to one seventh of its population, the residents of the South, and prevent future armament by Hamas in Gaza. Neither goal seems to have been achieved; noteworthy are Hamas's race to rearm itself and the continued smuggling operation via tunnels into Gaza.
Life in Israel has resumed, the Operation almost forgotten. The bigger threat, it is repeatedly said, is Iran, dismissing everything else as marginal. A window of opportunity for Israel to act against Iran while President Bush was still in Office seems to have closed, a new era has began. "Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8).
In Israel "Business is as Usual." It is now election time: Likud under Netanyahu's leadership or Kadima under Livni's? Who will be members of the new coalition that will form the new government? Will Barak remain the Minister of Defense (the Labor party has doubled its strength during the Operation)? Will actions by the Arab parties finally convince the rest of the members of the Parliament it is time to outlaw them? Will the religious right, constantly talking about "unity," be able to transcend its own internal bickering and divisiveness? The elections are on February 10th, and the days are now counted.
We changed from one counting (adding each passing day of Operation cast Lead) to another (counting down to election day). Life switched gears, has anything changed?
First, we have seen the resiliency of Hamas.
Second, we have witnessed shifting alliances within the Muslim world, Egypt leading the anti-Hamas camp and Muslim Turkey supporting it.
Third, Israel has united in support of its sons and daughters on the front line, in their devoted, courageous attempt to return sovereignty to Israel. More worrisome, though, was the
fourth element: the enemy from within Israel.
Fifth, anti-Semitism exploded, like trillions of viruses threatening to cripple a body, spreading the world over, feeding on the global economic downturn.
If one asks oneself about the current situation in Gaza, the answer would probably include these buzzwords: "Siege," "humanitarian crisis," "refugees." Even the more informed individuals, including many in the pro-Israel crowd, would succumb to the same. This is probably Israel's greatest failure in this Operation.
The Operation was not fought only on the ground and from the air. People the world over took active part in the Public Diplomacy Front. The "Siege" from before the Operation still continues a month later. The idea of a "Humanitarian Crisis" is so embedded in our mind's eye that we look at ways to help, to force the Siege to break. And so billions of fresh money are committed to the betterment of the Gazans, no lessons learned from the past.
Israel pays a very dear price for Hamas's imaginative work. One goes from strength to strength, the other is subjugated to constant scrutiny, its every step limited. Due to its lack of even the most basic respect to human life, Israel is now preparing for an avalanche of lawsuits against its officers and soldiers. This effort will be assisted, no doubt, with the aid of Israelis themselves, funded by well-meaning Jews from America.
Let us pinpoint every male (now also female) in the approximate age group that could have been called to serve in the South. How otherwise would the names of individuals come out exactly when these individuals are traveling overseas to be used in bogus claims against them for perpetrating "crimes against humanity?" This is either a case of broad "profiling" or a case in point of treason and sabotage.
If a single soldier is to be sued, the whole Country should stand behind it. Indeed, Defense Minister Barak has suggested to form a legal unit whose sole purpose would be to fight such lawsuits. How about starting an offensive rather than a defensive:
First, the same "impartial" courts must be used to sue every member of Hamas and their cohorts for the true crimes against civilians – their own civilian population and the civilian population of Israel.
Second, Israel's own system must be used to pinpoint the leakage points, those cooperating from within, and ensure they are brought to military court for trial.
Israel seems to have learned some lessons from a war just two years ago – the Second War in Lebanon in the summer of 2006:
· An army should behave as such.
· Reporters are subject to censorship and Freedom of the Press is not absolute during wartime.
· Not everyone should be expressing one's opinions and managing the war on Fox or CNN or other media, definitely not while in service using their IDF ranks.
· Media, politics and public diplomacy should not be handled by every army officer or soldier – there must be a clear separation between branches of government.
· Messages resonate more clearly when they are clear and spokespersons speak in unison.
· Readiness and preparedness are second to none.
· There are no "holy cows:" A mosque used as an operation base for Hamas or as a military storage location, a school used as a launching site for rockets and a UN facility or (heavens forbid) a foreign correspondents' gathering place are not immune when they are also used for enemy's activities.
Important lessons and proper implementation some two years later: Is that something of which to be proud? Clearly it is not: Improving from a failing grade does not mean one is at the top of the class, and reality proves that the class is headed by Hamas's efforts, despite its having to endure 22 days of Operation Cast Lead.
What does the future hold? In 1982 I was asked the same about Lebanon. Should Israel remain in Lebanon? How would Lebanon look as a result? In 2009 we should ask ourselves how could Lebanon have looked today had things were done differently? One can continue living one's life, facing the threat, hoping that today will not be worse than yesterday. Avoiding the threat does not solve the problem, it just distances one from needing to deal with it.
Hamas must be eradicated, eliminated. We must realize that there is not much difference between Hamas and Fatah, or many of the other gangs ruling in Gaza and Judea and Samaria. Their uniting denominator is stronger than any temporary rift: They all wish the utter and complete destruction of the Jewish State of Israel. Hamas, "democratically" elected some three years ago, now claims the right to rule both Gaza and Judea and Samaria. With the right tune, the world will soon be singing the same unifying song: "Let my people rule."
Israel has brought so much destruction and created a crisis of such unfathomable proportions, the World tells us, that the only venue truly open to Israel is to act with a vision for a better future. Israel must stop all these "humanitarian convoys" into Gaza and the flow of fuel and electricity to the areas under "siege." Egypt must play this role.
Israel should focus, instead, on taking a unilateral positive action. Rather than a unilateral withdrawal and a self-imposed ceasefire, Israel should have invited the Gazans - who knew there is safety in open areas as long as there are no guns, rockets, missiles, explosives and other war material in their midst – to new tent cities, with a hospital – the Gazans always prefer Israeli doctors and medicine – and schools – where children are taught what childhood, as opposed to robbed childhood is all about. Israel should have extended a hand in peace to the Gazans, showing them a gate to a better world.
Sometimes, taking a bold step seems very expensive. In the long run, such are the best investments in everyone's future.
Will Israel do anything between now and February 10th? The election will come and go, and a new government will be formed, possibly not very different from the current. A new President in the White House needs to prove himself. Israel seems the likely target. Without a strong backbone, will Israel be able to stand up for the rights of Israel herself?
Here in Israel, we must look inside. There we will find strength, conviction of the right of way, beliefs strong as lava rock. Faith and ability combined, G-d and Country together. Here in Israel the future exists since there is flame within, small but capable. Let us end by a letter issued on Friday, January 23, 2009, by the IDF army general who headed Operation Cast Lead to his soldiers:
Daily Orders by GOC Southern Command
Fighters and Commanders of the IDF in the Southern Front,
For the last month, IDF forces, both in reserves and regular service, together with forces of the ISA, operated in a concentrated campaign against terrorism in the Gaza Strip.
Operation Cast Lead was initiated on December 27th, [the sixth day of the Holiday of Chanukah], when an aerial attack was directed against central terrorist command centers and outposts. The operation continued in the weeks to follow in a ground campaign aimed at terrorist sites throughout all of Gaza
After years of continuous intentional terror attacks on Israeli civilians in southern Israel, the operation brought forth a new security situation, making clear that Israel will not allow its existence in this region to be doubted or questioned.
IDF fighters on the ground, in the air, and at sea, operated out of a strong belief in the righteousness of our way and demonstrated a steadfast fighting spirit, ambition, and a maintenance of the goal of this mission, while operating with a sense of comradeship and brotherhood in arms.
The cooperation between the various operating forces, as well as the presence of commanders in the front lines, were a central factor behind the operation's success.
The defense of our right to a safe and peaceful life in Israel had once again come at a high cost. 13 of Israel's finest - fighters, commanders and civilians - were lost in the campaign for the security of Israel's south. We lower our heads and our flag in honor of their memory, and mourn with their families. We extend a wish of full recovery to the wounded, and once more emphasize that we will do our utmost to return the kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit, to the warmth of his family.
The battle for the security of the state of Israel is yet to be over. We shall look onward, to the challenges of the future, knowing that we will successfully engage them, thanks to the righteousness of our way and our courageous spirit.
The Southern Command expresses its appreciation to the corps of the IDF for defending Israel and its people.
