Gaza: Here We Go Again
![Illustration: Israelis Run For Shelter From Incoming Missiles by B'Tselem, Baz Ratner, Reuters [CC BY 4.0] via Wikimedia](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9323fa_db72ff0c27ec45ca9981a3c5ed95bd8b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/9323fa_db72ff0c27ec45ca9981a3c5ed95bd8b~mv2.jpg)
Illustration: Israelis Run For Shelter From Incoming Missiles by B'Tselem, Baz Ratner, Reuters [CC BY 4.0] via Wikimedia
Half of Israel's Jewish population must be very careful not to stray too far from the nearest bomb shelter, for missiles are raining down upon millions of Jews from Gaza again.
In a precision strike in Gaza on Monday night, Israel took down a top commander of the terror group "Islamic Jihad," and likewise took out another one of their leaders in Damascus. Both terrorists had much Jewish blood on their hands and were planning for more. Islamic Jihad reacted with waves of missile attacks on Israel's civilian centers.
It is not clear if Hamas, the terror government of Gaza, will join the current attacks launched by Islamic Jihad. The internal terror politics in Gaza and the chances for escalation and "another round” of fighting do not interest me. Israel might shed precious blood, G-d forbid, and spends huge treasures with the same guaranteed humiliating results as the last "rounds."
As long as terrorists remain on their feet and in control of Gaza, they are thrilled with their recurring clashes with the Israeli army. We bloody them and they bloody us. We mourn our dead and they celebrate theirs.
They know that another "round" will be yet another validation of their power and authority. They know they will be around for many more such encounters with the Jewish enemy as they play us like a yo-yo. For this, they exist.
It would be worth giving some thought as to how we got into this mess in the first place. This is an important question that might lead to a solution.
Before the government of Yitzhak Rabin invited the PLO and its arch-terrorist leader Yasser Arafat into Gaza City and other urban centers in 1993, there was never a thought of a missile threat from there.
When some dared protest the Oslo Accords — which were supported by the media, academia, entertainers, and political class — and warned that there would now be missiles fired into Israel from Gaza, Rabin mocked them and guaranteed that just as there were never missiles shot from Gaza, there never would be: “You are just afraid of peace.”
When the terrorists — our new "peace partners" — began to shoot homemade "Kassam rockets," then Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres made light: "Kassams - shmassams."
Then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later turned the entire Gaza Strip over to the Palestinian Authority in 2005. He forcefully expelled thousands of Jews, making the area totally "Judenrein." It was explained by the same "know-it-all" class that this would finally bring “peace,” international approval, and lots of good things — trust us this time.
And yet Hamas quickly took over, literally overthrowing their rival Fatah terrorists as they hurled them from the roofs of Gaza. Now the rockets really began to rain down. Tunnels were dug into Israel, fire kites were flown.
Israel began building more shelters, fences, and hugely expensive anti-missile systems, allowed vast amounts of money to reach the Hamas terror government, supplied them with water and electricity for which they often do not pay, and treated Hamas family members in our hospitals. Who said that Israel does nothing regarding Hamas?
What should be done to clean up the mess that the "know-it-all" class has brought us?
Defeat the terrorists — in war.
Replace their rule and then begin a campaign of voluntary emigration from Gaza. Gazans want desperately to leave. Many thousands leave every year; many have family abroad, and far more want to leave.
Many countries need good labor, especially if they come with a good amount of cash in their pockets. Hamas limits the exodus to those who can afford to bribe them for the opportunity. Have the U.S. pressure Egypt to open its doors to Gazans; Egypt is besieging Gaza from its western border.
Strive to fulfill the Torah command of not permitting them in our land.
These are the strategic goals. The tactics?
First, warn the civilians that we are coming in and direct them to predetermined open areas. Use overwhelming and relentless firepower and risk as few of our boys as possible, suppressing all suspected terror centers.
Totally uproot all semblance of a terror infrastructure and administration. Hunt down all terrorists and eliminate them. Expel all known terrorist supporters that have not actively taken up arms against Israel.
Create an Israeli military administration as existed before the Oslo debacle. Encourage and facilitate the already popular emigration desire with incentives and aid.
Return lots of Jews to this now pacified part of our promised land with incentives — and watch the desert bloom once again.
Will this happen? Not in this dream.
Must it happen? Yes.
Contact Shalom Pollack, veteran licensed tour guide, for upcoming tours at Shalom Pollack Tours: Personalized Tours in Israel. Join him Wednesday, November 27 for a unique Hevron tour including new biblical excavations and newly redeemed Jewish property. For information and details of upcoming tours, email him here. Click here to read more of this writer’s work in The Jerusalem Herald.
