Today alone more than 70 rockets
and mortar shells have been fired into southern Israel from Gaza, with the Iron
Dome intercepting seven Grad Katyusha rockets headed for populated areas.
Five people have been injured, two
-- Thai workers -- seriously. Others are suffering from shock. Seven
houses have been hit, with one damaged significantly. Schools in the
area are closed.
Credit:
YNet
In addition, last night a bomb
exploded at the border of Gaza, critically injuring an IDF soldier as he
was doing a routine patrol near the fence.
~~~~~~~~~~
The residents of the area, while
determined to stick it out and refusing to leave their homes, feel as if they
are living on the edge. Their lives are disrupted and they have the sense
that disaster could strike at any moment.
There are a million people --
Israeli citizens -- affected by this situation.
Here you see children playing
near a shelter. There is a 15 second period for getting to a shelter
after an alarm sounds.
Credit:
Israelhayom
~~~~~~~~~~
Hamas's armed wing, Al Kassam
Brigades, has taken credit for these attacks, although the PFLP has also taken
credit for the bomb attack on the soldier.
Israel has retaliated with air
strikes against rocket-launching "operatives" and has killed four from
Hamas.
But the barrage has not
stopped. Which serves to indicate that the situation is a lot more
complicated than knocking off a few of their people to make them afraid so they
will cease and desist. A lot more complicated.
~~~~~~~~~~
Along with this retaliatory
action, come the statements by heads of our government about how no one who
attacks Israelis is safe.
Prime Minister Netanyahu was
clear:
"We did not start this recent
escalation, but if it continues, we are prepared to go ahead with much wider and
deeper military operations."
~~~~~~~~~~
But Defense Minister Ehud
Barak? He equivocated:
"The IDF is strong and can do
anything that the government of Israel decides.
"[it is] important that the
government think before it decides. The next step will bring escalation, not
containment. There is no way to accept terror coming out of Gaza. We are
examining all the options. If there is no other choice, and the fire
continues, they will get hit hard. Nothing is impossible, including a ground
operation if necessary."
"There is no way to accept terror
coming out of Gaza." But we ARE accepting it. And I wonder how many
other nations would tolerate such a situation.
"The next step will bring
escalation, not containment." A most unfortunate statement and not one that
will serve our goals of deterrence.
It is not my place to determine
exactly when a ground operation is called for -- undoubtedly there are
factors to be considered that I am not privy to. Yet I know that it is
only going to get worse in Gaza, as al-Qaeda grows stronger and more
sophisticated equipment is brought in. Already there are shoulder-launched
anti-aircraft missiles there.
I also know that many in the south
of Israel feel beleaguered, if not abandoned.
And so I came full circle and ask,
"How much is too much?"
Credit:
Gerardgroup
~~~~~~~~~~
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Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner,
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