Iran’s Grip on Gaza and Israel’s Dilemma
by Jonathan Spyer, The Australian May 11, 2019

The latest short, intense flare up of violence between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza appears to have concluded. … So should the latest confrontation be simply filed away as a passing episode in a seemingly endless, if mostly contained conflict?
Not quite. Israel’s central dilemma regarding Hamas-controlled Gaza can be discerned behind Israeli decisionmaking in recent days. Observe:
The latest events mark the clear arrival of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) organization to a primary role in the ongoing conflict. The fighting was triggered by the targeting by Islamic Jihad snipers of IDF personnel on the border area on May 3rd. Two IDF soldiers – a man and a woman – were wounded. The attack took place against the background of a Hamas-organized border demonstration. Israel’s response then led to further Hamas missile and rocket attacks.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a press conference in Jerusalem, on Oct. 4, 2018.





