Posted on 08/04/2014 9:53:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Israel will not stop its military campaign in Gaza until long-term calm is restored, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, at the end of a seven-hour humanitarian lull in fighting.
“The campaign in Gaza is continuing. This operation will only end when quiet and security is established for the citizens of Israel for a prolonged period," he said on a visit to the army's southern command.
Also Monday, in what appeared to be backlash against Israel’s offensive against Gaza, a Palestinian man killed an Israeli and overturned a bus with a construction vehicle and a gunman wounded a soldier. Both attacks occurred in Jerusalem.
The Israeli operation in Gaza began on July 8 with an air campaign and expanded into a ground operation on July 17 with the aim of destroying a network of tunnels used for cross-border attacks.
By the weekend, Netanyahu said troops would finish with the tunnels before moving into a new phase, although officials have not said what that would involve.
The Israeli army confirmed it had begun pulling out some troops from Gaza over the past weekend.
(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...
That was the fastest 72 hours I ever spent. It started exactly at 8 am this morning. At 7:58, we had an air alert siren in Efrat, so exactly is very exact. Now it’s already over. Oh, well.
Well, it looks like Hamas will be in Gaza the next time Israel is under threat to pile on. It looks like Hamas will remain there, to control education and media, and indoctrinate the next generation. It looks like Hamas will remain there to silence any potential voice of moderation or reconciliation.
What a strategic opportunity that seems to be slipping away.
Hamas must be destroyed, or there can never be safety for Israel. Timid half measures can only go until Hamas eventually gets a weapon that works. They only need to win once, because they are willing to make it final. They have the will to win.
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