(Jerusalem Post) Yaakov Lappin - The deterrence gained by Israel in the 2009 Cast Lead operation has run out, in great part due to the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. With Hamas feeling confident over the ascendancy of its fellow Islamists in the region, and the emergence of a new patron in Cairo, it and Islamic Jihad chipped away at Israeli deterrence, attempting to set new rules. Hamas has overplayed its hand. It mistook Israeli restraint for weakness. Israel has left Hamas with an exit. Should it decrease the rocket attacks, the IDF will scale back its operation. Operation "Pillar of Defense" is also a message to the wider region, now filling up with Islamist forces: Israel will not be deterred from taking basic steps to defend its civilians.
2012-11-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive