Special to WorldTribune.com
JERUSALEM — Israel has become concerned over its inability to deter attacks from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Officials acknowledged that Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies were confident that Israel, restrained by the United States, would not threaten their interests. They said this has led to the failure of repeated ceasefires and the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
“This is the moment of truth for Israeli deterrence,” Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said.
Bennett, a senior Cabinet minister, responded to renewed Palestinian rocket and missile fire into Israel at the end of a 72-hour ceasefire on Aug. 8. Officials acknowledged that Hamas and Islamic Jihad were firing medium-range rockets to pressure Israel into far-reaching concessions, including the establishment of a sea port for the Gaza Strip.
Israel has been holding indirect negotiations with Hamas and Jihad in Cairo.
“We are at a crossroads and within two or three days we will see whether we are heading left toward an agreement, or right, toward escalation,” Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, deemed close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Aug. 9.
Officials said the Netanyahu government was making little headway in its campaign to demilitarize the Gaza Strip. They said several ministers were concerned that they would be the target of war crime prosecution by the International Criminal Court.
“We are likely to be dragged into a war of attrition,” Science Minister Yaakov Peri said.
The government has sought to highlight military gains in the ongoing war with Hamas. They said Hamas and Jihad rocket fire was reduced by two-thirds, and that both organizations were damaged.
“I won’t give away our intentions,” Communications Minister Gilad Erdan said. “But the prospect of a widespread invasion and destruction of Hamas is still on the agenda.”
‘Moment of truth for Israeli deterrence’: Officials say full-scale invasion ‘still on the agenda’ added by World Tribune on
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