"Let's Defeat Hamas On Our Terms: By Jerrold L. Sobel...Article in The Jewish Press 2/6/09

Let's Defeat Hamas On Our Terms Not Theirs
Date 12:02, 02-6, 09 Jewish Press

Although I've been an advocate of "finish em off" in regard to Hamas. Dr. Birnbaum in his article,"Gaza: Looking Back And To The Future," makes a valid point about Hizbullah not joining the recent fray for fear of the retribution it would cause. There is one main difference. To a certain degree Hizbullah still must account to a Lebanese government of which they now are politically attached to. Another provoked Israeli punitive response to Lebenon's infrastructure would be political suicide for them.

Hamas was democratically elected and having kicked out Fatah, have no restraintive counter balance. They can continue to attack Israel with impunity while having little fear of a backlash from their electorate that seems to support them unabashedly.

I further agree with Dr. Birnbaum that a guerilla war against terrorists that are largely comprised of civillians which meld easily into the local population is un-winnable unless fought in a Carthaginian manner. However, that's not to say Israel can't break the will of the Gazans by employing their own tactics which with the grace of Hashem, worked quite well in the past.

Other than the customary condemnations from the usual cast of characters around the world, Israel might consider a massive surprise attack on Gaza in the areas containing the tunnels. Eliminate as many fighters, weapons, and leadership as possible and then expediously withdraw her forces in favor of Fatah, our old but seemingly less dogmatic foe.

There is no doubt, for a myriad of geo/political reasons, Hamas must not be allowed to continue in power. A truce with these sworn killers would be analogous to the police signing a letter of understanding with organized crime. Their dismantling however, should not come on their terms but on ours.

Jerrold L. Sobel