DM Barak indicates goal of Israel is hudna?
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 2 March, 2008
In a live interview broadcast this morning on Israel Radio's morning news
program, minister of defense Ehud Barak explained that "we are acting in
order to damage the Hamas infrastructure in the entire area - principally in
the area of Gaza itself. The ultimate purpose is to bring about a halt to
the firing of Qassams.We have to be organized for it to get more serious,
because the big ground operation is real. Tangible. We are not happy about
it. We are not deterred from it. There are many considerations regarding
the timing and they cannot be shared with the public and certainly not with
Hamas. I am the minister of defense in the Government of Israel and our
ultimate responsibility is to bring about a restoration of security to the
residents of the communities surrounding Gaza, Sderot and Ashkelon. And we
will do it even if it takes a little time.There is no reason to give
information to Hamas about when a certain operation will stop."
It would appear that the talking points about timing considerations for a
big ground operation may be on the Olmert team's talking point sheet since
it has come up recently in several interviews with members of the team.
It would also appear that whoever has put together the talking points sheet
for the Olmert team has failed to "connect the dots" by putting the goal of
Israel the "halting of the Qassams" instead of a broader sound bite that
also refers to ending the smuggling and weapons preparation in the Gaza
Strip - requirements that Israeli officials typically only mention if they
are prompted to do so by reporters.
The result is that the message of the Olmert team is that it is seeking a
"hudna" from Hamas, namely a ceasefire under which Hamas is not prevented
from strengthening and expanding its military capabilities for the next
round.
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il
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