Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel, despite the destruction of missile arsenals,
would not be able to stop another war without an invasion of the Gaza Strip,
a report said.

The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies asserted that Hamas and its
Palestinian militia allies would soon recover from the latest missile war
with Israel. In a report, the center said the Israeli military would be
unable to stop massive weapons smuggling to Hamas without establishing a
presence in the Gaza Strip.

“Everything short of presence on the ground will not be effective,” the
report, titled “Operation Pillar of Defense: An Initial Strategic and
Military Assessment,” said. “Under the current circumstances one should expect that in a short period, as past experience indicates, Hamas will restore and improve its operational capability.”

Authored by Eitan Shamir, the report said Israel’s refusal to invade the
Gaza Strip allowed Hamas to claim victory. Shamir, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and fellow at the center, said the aftermath of the eight-day war could encourage Hamas to renew missile and rocket attacks on Israel.

“Only a large ground offensive, in which Israel must destroy the
capabilities of Hamas and other terror groups, can eliminate the threat from Gaza and re-establish deterrence,” the report said. “…Only a ground offensive that regains operational control over all or parts of Gaza can stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.”

The report outlined Israeli gains in the mini-war known as Operation
Pillar of Defense. Shamir cited the assassination of Hamas military chief
Ahmed Jabari, the destruction of Hamas medium-and long-range rockets and the
effectiveness of Israel’s Iron Dome missile and rocket defense system.

Other Israeli achievements included the reduction of collateral damage
in Israel Air Force strikes on Hamas and allied targets. The report said
civilian casualties comprised less than half of those killed in the air
strikes.

“In comparison, the United States and its allies kill five or six
civilians for one combatant in Iraq and Afghanistan,” the report said. “The
low number of civilian casualties significantly eased international pressure
on Israel.”

Shamir said the Israeli air campaign also neutralized a leading element
in Iran’s war strategy. He said the destruction of Hamas rockets and
protection of Israeli cities could neutralize Teheran’s proxies in wake of
any Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Still, the report said the Israel Air Force ran out of targets and lost
momentum. Shamir said the use of Israel’s air and naval assets has “serious
limitations that one needs to consider.”

“The lack of a ground offensive allowed Hamas to craft a victory
narrative and the potential to re-arm,” the report said. “The next round is
only a matter of time.”

  Ahmed Jabari, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Gaza Strip, Iron Dome, Report: Israel needs invasion to stop new Hamas offensive, weapons smuggling