By Ted Belman
A couple of days ago Obama said the demilitarization has to wait for a peace agreement. Yesterday Hagel Secretary of Defense delivered a different message;
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon spoke by phone with his American counterpart Chuck Hagel, who called for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza that would lead to a permanent end in fighting along with the disarmament of Hamas.
The US secretary of defense stressed that any comprehensive resolution to the over three-week conflagration would need to result in the demilitarization of Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza.
If this is the last word, it is hugely important.
I believe a deal is in the making. Israel is being given extra time perhaps a week to finish the demolition of the tunnels. Then there will be a ceasefire, with all issues on the table. i.e., full demilitarization with continuous oversight and full opening of borders. That way both sides get what they want. But Hamas will pay a very steep price.
If Hamas doesn’t accept it, which is likely, there will be no ceasefire except by Israel who will only respond to fire. Israel may withdraw as part of this deal.
This would be a very good deal for Israel.
1. Both the EU and the US will press for demilitarization to go with the opening of the borders.
2. Israel doesn’t have to continue suffering casualties and inflicting casualties.
3. Israel makes no concession to Hamas other than the conditional opening of borders in exchange for demilitarization.
4. Hamas remains in power with no way to rearm.
Wishful think? Perhaps.
On the other hand, why did Israel just call up another 16000 reservists. What’s the meaning of this. I believe that there have now been 86,000 call ups. Its hard to imagine how so many troops are being deployed in Tunnel destruction. Anyone have the answer?
An additional 16,000 reserve soldiers are being called up for duty, joining some 70,000 reservist who had already been called for service, the IDF announced Thursday. With the call-up, a total of some 86,000 reservists will be on active duty.
The call-up indicates that the IDF may expand its operation, expanding its mission beyond the destruction of terror tunnels constructed by Hamas. IDF spokesmen over the past day have said that the army needs between two and three days to destroy all the Hamas tunnels that could be used to attack Israel.
it is possible that the US protestations are a cover to distract from their resupply of Israel. Also I never heard again about the 225 million in missing iron dome parts requested by Israel from the US. Often rhetoric acts as disinformation, red herring and distraction….in such scenarios deeds are more important.
words and lies
liars liars
They all lie from the USA
one day this and one day that
and always they end up saying stop!
It’s only truth when Gaza is fumigated.
@ bernard ross:
So we get some reality check into our speculations.
My iphone just relied three Home Command warnings of rockets heading to Southern locations, again and several rockets were downed over Tel Aviv earlier
A short while ago a zone alert was sent by the same Command due to a possible infiltration of terrorists into Israel. This through another tunnel.
I am very concerned that we are being bushwhacked by the speechster again. What precisely has the military offensive accomplished if still our people cannot move away from shelters?
France seeking to disarm the Jews in preparation for their slaughter
perhaps hezbullah is next?
the choices that appear to be presenting to BB if a cease-fire is imminent is between leaving a weakened and demilitarized hamas in power or giving gaza to the PA.
Neither choice is worth more soldiers lives. Only the choice of retaking and ruling gaza is worth more lives, which I don’t expect BB to do.
Therefore, gaza to PA means unity gov and more pressure for “peace” deal and leaving weak hamas means status quo keeping the two apart. It will be interesting to see the choice he makes. I believe he is choosing to give gaza to PA as he has already agreed to install PA at the customs.
We have had American promises before that turned out to be fake when it came time to honor them. In 2006 after the fight with Hezbolla in Lebanon that area was to be demilitarized with the U.N. to monitor it. Today we hear that Hezbolla is armed and dug in with tunnels and missiles just as was Gaza. I can only hope that Israel will NOT depend on any American promise. When there were friendly American administration in power their promises were worthless. Now with Obama they are even more worthless. I do detect that Obama may be reducing pressure only when Israel hangs tough. I fear that he will betray Israel as soon as the fighting stops.
@ woolymammoth:
Excellent and to the point!
Peres, Netanyahu, Barak and Livni are lurking to return to their “peace, retreat and betrayal” shtick.
Sharon’s experiment failed. The “Peace” process is finished. It failed. How much more obvious could it be. The UN should be indicted in the Intenational Criminal Court in The Hague for aiding and abetting terrorism and international terrorist organizations.
Having served in Miluim many years ago in Gaza, we grew to know why the Egyptians despise them. Many of the “hamulas” there are considered low grade in the Arab grading scale. And even worse among the Egyptians.
Untrustworthy, underhanded, viciously violent, slimy and thus making a natural habitat for Islamic murderers.
HAMAS cannot possibly be allowed to remain in any form.
It is like leaving behind pathological tissues after an operation.
Ted,
The only viable solution is the destruction of Hamas. It must be deprived of its territorial base to wage jihad upon Israel. I don’t care if the Arabs are deprived of a say in who represents them. The Allies did not allow the Germans or the Japanese to choose Nazis or militarists as their rulers after their defeat at the conclusion of World War II. Israel should follow the same principle with Gaza.