The Gaza Alternative to Defensive Shield

(Ha'aretz) Amos Harel - In Gaza, elite Golani and Givati troops have been carrying out almost daily raids deep inside the Strip, but despite Israeli hints to the contrary, the security establishment has no intention of fully capturing Gaza, like it did the West Bank. The Gaza alternative to Operation Defensive Shield will include ongoing efforts to wear down the Palestinian opposition, via ongoing raids and targeted killings. Within the security establishment, some officials suggest that the time has come to end the relative immunity that has been granted the political leaders of the Palestinian terror organizations. Despite the losses of top commanders, Hamas has never been as popular as it is now, not only because it continues to exact a toll from Israelis, but because it is seen as handling day-to-day problems better than the PA. Israeli sources say Hamas now controls at least 10% of the medical facilities in Gaza. IDF intelligence is more concerned about an international wave of terror aimed at Jewish and Israeli targets abroad during a war on Iraq, than about a drastic change in terror stemming from the West Bank and Gaza.


2003-03-07 00:00:00

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