Gaza -- More views

Interesting piece from Asia Times Online -- the opening paragraphs show Bennett's political position but the article goes on to deal with the practical issues related to the fighting.


Ground realities in Gaza
By Richard M Bennett

Israel's patience with Hamas finally snapped on December 27, 2008. The government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Tel Aviv finally took the momentous decision that it was no longer possible politically, militarily or morally to endure the constant barrage of Hamas missiles on its citizens in the south of Israel.

This closely followed the deliberate refusal by Hamas on December 19 to renew the already shaky ceasefire of the previous six months.

International condemnation of Israel's actions swiftly followed. However to many neutral observers and indeed to the majority of Israelis, much of this wave of criticism appears to be both cynical and unjust.

For many of those states and individuals at the forefront of the protests have displayed a noticeable lack of concern over Hamas' terrorist attacks.

Similarly those same critics have shown a spectacular indifference to the plight of nearly a million Israeli civilians forced to live under the constant threat of Hamas missiles and suicide bombers.

Hamas had simply pushed its luck too far by continuing to deliberately target soft Israeli civilian targets.

Full story here:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KA08Ak02.html