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Hamastan Must Go

[Jerusalem Post] Editorial - Since the Hamas government in Gaza has chosen to pursue violence across the border, relentlessly targeting Israel's civilians - including those who supply the people of Gaza with fuel and electricity - Israel's necessary course of action is clear: to begin restoring deterrence along the Gaza border. This requires a series of escalating steps beginning with the elimination of Hamas' key leaders, and continuing with relentless fire at the sources of rocket launches, while making every effort to minimize civilian casualties. Ultimately, so long as the danger persists, "putting an end to the Hamas government" may necessitate temporarily retaking some or even all of the Strip. All this must be accompanied by public diplomacy, stressing that Israel has no long-term interest in occupying Gaza, and that such action in defense of sovereign Israel's citizenry is legitimate under international law. As Stephen Schwebel, who served as president of the International Court of Justice in the Hague, said, "A state acting in lawful exercise of its right of self-defense may seize and occupy foreign territory as long as such seizure and occupation are necessary to its self-defense." Only by restoring deterrence and securing defensible borders - which mandates the uprooting of Hamastan - will Israel be able to protect its citizens and work toward peace and a genuine two-state solution.
2008-05-16 01:00:00
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