Weekly Commentary: Take the Philadelphi Corridor Back Now

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 25 August 2011

Fact: The only way we can effectively put a halt to the terror operations
organized from the Gaza Strip is to retake the Philadelphi Corridor with a
workable width instead of 100 meters separating between Sinai and the Gaza
Strip..

Some quick answers to the arguments for postponing the move:

Argument #1: We should not act before the elections in Egypt as it would
undermine our relations with the temporary military regime controlling the
country.

Counter argument #1: We should act before the elections in Egypt when the
temporary military regime is still controlling the country since we are
clueless as to who will be in charge in Egypt after the elections. It could
very well be considerably more dangerous for Israel-Egypt relations to
re-take the Philadelphi Corridor after the elections in Egypt.

Argument #2: We should wait until after September developments with the
Palestinians.

Counter argument #2: Today the Gaza Strip is inside Israel’s security
envelope and Gaza is not a sovereign entity. The potential diplomatic and
other consequences of re-taking the Philadelphi Corridor after the
declaration of a sovereign Palestinian state are magnitudes more dangerous
and complicated than today.

Argument #3: We should wait until we have more Iron Dome batteries in place.

Counter argument #3: Already today the range and quantity of the
Palestinian rockets is such that they can readily target areas not covered
by the additional Iron Dome batteries slated. Postponing this operation only
makes it easier for the Palestinians to try to keep pace with Israeli
defense measures.

Retreating from the Philadelphi Corridor was a terrible mistake in judgment
for which we have paid dearly, The time has come to correct this costly
error.

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