The Israel Defense
Forces are bombing the Gaza Strip and the world is, for the most part,
silent. In fact, the IDF is bombing Gaza and the world is, for the most
part, supporting Israel.
How is this happening?
Wars today are fought not only with bullets, but also with images.
During Operation Pillar of Defense, Israel has succeeded in appearing as
the victim, even though it is acting with strength and determination.
But don't get too excited. This could turn around in a moment.
Israel's advocates have
so far had a much easier time than they did during Operation Cast Lead,
in 2008-9. The IDF has focused on attacking specific terrorists and has
been extremely careful to not harm innocent civilians, even if this has
meant calling off planned strikes. The government's instructions on
this have been clear.
Israel understands that
wars today are fought not only on the physical battlefield. The war of
images is no less important than the war of bullets. Israel's public
relations officials gained enough experience from the days of the Second
Intifada to internalize the equation that fewer civilian casualties
lead to less criticism and more international legitimacy.
The start of Operation
Pillar of Defense went well. Israel opened the operation by killing
Hamas military wing chief Ahmed Jabari and taking out long-range missile
sites. It would be hard for the West to criticize strikes on such
targets.
At the same time,
Israel asked the West this question: What would you do if Paris or
London were attacked? Pictures were broadcast of sites in Ashkelon,
Ashdod and Kiryat Malachi that had been hit by Hamas missiles. This
time, the world saw an injured Israeli baby, not just a Palestinian one.
In the world's eyes, the heroes in Israel are not the country's pilots,
but the civilians taking cover in bomb shelters. An image of a civilian
huddling in a bomb shelter is received much more favorably than one of a
pilot in a fighter jet.
The IDF's pinpoint
attacks have spoiled Hamas' public relations efforts. Hamas, along with
its allies in the radical Arab world, can continue to talk about
“barbaric” IDF attacks, but it has no photos to back up such
accusations.
There is no cause for
euphoria, however, because everything can change in an instant. One
mistake and the picture is reversed. Do you remember Qana (where the IDF
accidentally killed large numbers of Lebanese civilians in both 1996
and 2006)?
Also, the diplomatic
clock is continuing to tick. The French foreign minister is hurrying to
come here, ahead of the U.N. secretary-general. The world's support is
conditional and time-limited. Israel is walking on very thin ice.
The first days of the
operation have been very successful, even with the air raid sirens that
sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem over the weekend. Paradoxically, these
long-range rocket attacks showed the limits of Hamas' potency.
Israel will not resolve
the conflict with the Palestinians in this round or the next one. But
the current military operation is meant to bring quiet to the south,
restore Israel's deterrence and weaken Hamas. As a bonus, Israel is
receiving support from the West and understanding from the media.
In a war of images, victory does
not necessarily come on the battlefield. So a ground operation must be
considered cautiously. It may be tempting, but it would also be risky.
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