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Israel/Palestine

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Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
Wed Aug 6, 2014, 03:30 PM Aug 2014

In Gaza, there is no such thing as 'innocent civilians' [View all]

Op-ed: Fighting an enemy state with one hand while supplying food and energy to its residents with the other hand is absurd.

Giora Eiland (born in 1952, in moshav Kfar Hess) is Major General (ret.) Israel Defense Forces. Eiland is former Israel's National Security Advisor. He is a senior research associate at the Institute for National Security Studies and holds an M.B.A. and B.A. in economics from Bar Ilan University.[3][4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giora_Eiland

Giora Eiland
Published: 08.05.14, / Israel Opinion

Regardless of how Protective Edge ends, this operation appears to have one clear lesson, which doesn't have to do with the tunnel issue but with a more strategic question. Israel is repeatedly falling into the asymmetry trap.

The story we are telling in this conflict is similar to the one we told in Lebanon in 2006. In this story we are fighting a terror organization, and only a terror organization, while the population the organization is operating from is not the enemy. Moreover, during the fighting we even feel obligated to supply Gaza's residents with food, fuel and electricity.

Why is that wrong? Because a state cannot defeat an efficient guerilla organization if the following three conditions exist: We and they are on two sides of a border; the organization enjoys the full protection of a state; their state or its citizens are not an accountable side. Whoever fails to understand that is entering a war without an ability to win.


We are seeing now that despite the IDF's impressive fighting, despite the absolute military supremacy, we are in a sort of "strategic tie."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4554583,00.html
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Netanyahu: Gaza operation 'justified, proportionate' Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #1
Palestinians finally bury their dead in Gaza sands Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #2
Netanyahu is a baby killer. R. Daneel Olivaw Aug 2014 #5
So is Obama, right? oberliner Aug 2014 #6
Confession by interrogation... with no legal representation that I am aware of. Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #10
The reason for Gaza was the 3000 rockets , King_David Aug 2014 #13
Nonsense. n/t Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #14
Great rebuttal King_David Aug 2014 #15
Your argument does not require more than what you received. Enjoy your reliance on Bibi talk Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #16
I posted Haaretz editorial explained the legitimacy King_David Aug 2014 #17
alright...enjoy the legitimacy of the massacre. n/t Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #18
Had Hamas been a Jewish terror organisation..... kayecy Aug 2014 #19
I never said that was reasonable King_David Aug 2014 #21
You wrote......... kayecy Aug 2014 #24
Well the Rockets were the reason as opposed to King_David Aug 2014 #25
You haven't answered my question........ kayecy Aug 2014 #28
Where did I say it was ? King_David Aug 2014 #30
And I say the blockade of Gaza's seaport has to be withdrawn if...... kayecy Aug 2014 #33
There was no blockade before the rockets King_David Aug 2014 #34
For a year or so yes but....... kayecy Aug 2014 #35
All that in Gaza.? King_David Aug 2014 #36
You're clearly missing the point. FBaggins Aug 2014 #26
Thank you for telling us where you stand on human life....... kayecy Aug 2014 #29
Yep. 840high Aug 2014 #31
How are you supposed to react to a statement like that? upaloopa Aug 2014 #3
+1. You reacted to his statement quite well, I feel. People who continue to support a government Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #4
Titles are not always drawn from the author's words FBaggins Aug 2014 #7
Not buying it. Gaza is a place created by Israel. upaloopa Aug 2014 #8
I'm not saying that I agree with him FBaggins Aug 2014 #9
You help make it clear thanks upaloopa Aug 2014 #11
Was it? Shaktimaan Aug 2014 #12
The US State Dept and the UN consider Gaza occupied...... kayecy Aug 2014 #20
In 2005 when Gaza was evacuated of every last Jewish settler King_David Aug 2014 #22
An irrelevant historical fact....... kayecy Aug 2014 #27
‘A Dubai on the Mediterranean’ Sara Roy on Gaza’s future ( 2005 ) Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #23
Mounting evidence of deliberate attacks on Gaza health workers by Israeli army Jefferson23 Aug 2014 #32
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