Israel wants to topple Hamas, but doing so would leave it in charge of Gaza again

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s assertion Tuesday that Israel would reoccupy the Gaza Strip should it be necessary to do so sounds like another unrealistic threat voiced by a government which woke up one morning and realized that Hamas cannot be done away with, and that, unfortunately, Israel will have to learn to live with Gaza’s fanatic rulers for the time being.

Livni’s threat, coming two days after the IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip following three days of fighting, gives voice to that frustration, as it is slowly dawning on Israel that Hamas cannot be removed from power, Israel cannot turn back the clock and reoccupy the Gaza Strip, and that a new balance of terror will have to be established between Israel and Hamas, in which the latter is constantly placed under pressure to seek a ceasefire. The prevailing feeling amongst the Israeli population is one of a missed opportunity – that the last IDF operation “didn’t go all the way” to topple Hamas Continue reading →