Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has revised its retaliatory policy against the Gaza Strip.

Officials said the Defense Ministry has overseen a tougher policy against Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies in the Gaza Strip. They said the policy renewed the call to assassinate key insurgents, particularly those responsible for the daily missile and rocket strikes on Israel.

“We will not hesitate to hurt those who threaten our security, and we will do this with all means and tools at our disposal,” Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said.

Officials said Ya’alon has ordered the military to target Palestinian rocket commanders in the Gaza Strip. They said the Israel Air Force and Israel Security Agency were directed to prepare assassinations regardless of whether the rocket strikes on the Jewish state resulted in casualties.

“Israel informed Hamas that if there is to be an escalation in the south, the rules will be determined in Jerusalem, not Gaza,” Israeli defense analyst Yoav Limor, regarded as close to the military, said.

Officials said the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which for the last year restricted retaliation to air strikes on fixed targets, was warned by military and intelligence community that the daily
rocket attacks on Israel could lead to another all-out war with the Gaza Strip. They said the elimination of suspected Palestinian rocket commanders would eventually generate deterrence and press Hamas to control the militias.

So far, Hamas has not cracked down on militia rocket squads. Officials
said Hamas has deployed troops along the border with Israel but did little
against the Al Qaida and other militias that have taken responsibility for
the strikes against the Jewish state.

“The solution is targeted assassinations, which contains several
advantages,” Ron Ben-Yishai, another leading defense analyst, said. “They
strike the involved people directly — if not the launching
cells themselves, then those involved in tying the ends which eventually
make a launch possible. Secondly, they have international legitimacy; the
Americans use the same method against Al Qaida.”

Officials said Netanyahu has approved every target killing
operation. They said the prime minister insisted that any Israeli attack
eliminate a major insurgent and avoid collateral damage.

On Jan. 22, the Israel Air Force killed a Palestinian identified as a
rocket commander in the Gaza Strip. Ahmed Zaanin, who worked for the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine, was said to have directed the rocket
attacks on Israel during the Jan. 13 funeral of former Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon near the Gaza Strip. Zaanin was said to have established cells and
participated in a series of rocket strikes.

“Ahmed Za’anin belonged to the PFLP terrorist organization, and in the
past, was a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization,”
the Israeli military said. “He carried out many destructive acts against
Israeli civilians and the IDF, with an emphasis on rocket fire.”

Officials said the Hamas regime has responded to the new Israeli policy.
They said Hamas, also under pressure by neighboring Egypt, took steps to
stop the Palestinian rocket launches.

“We see Hamas responsible for firing at Israel, and we will continue to
fight back at Hamas and those engaged in terror,” Ya’alon said.

  Ahmed Zaanin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza Strip, Israel orders military to target Gaza rocket commanders, Moshe Ya’alon, PFLP