Netanyahu Hails 'Great Diplomatic Blow' To Hamas

Arutz Sheva ^ | 27/8/14 | Hezki Ezra & Ari Yashar

[Eleutheria5]

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night attempted to respond to the outpouring of criticism for his unilateral decision the night before, in which he sealed a ceasefire deal with the terrorist group Hamas.

"With the establishment of the ceasefire I can say that this is a great military and diplomatic achievement," claimed Netanyahu, accompanied by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

Netanyahu stated "Hamas has been hit critically and didn't receive any of the demands it set."

Palestinian Authority (PA) officials revealed that in the deal Gaza received an immediate ease of the blockade and an opening of its fishing zone. Discussions on the Hamas demand for a sea and airport, as well as a swap of hundreds of terrorists for the bodies of IDF soldiers Second Lt. Hadar Goldin and First Sgt. Oron Shaul hy''d, are to be held within a month.

The IDF destroyed over 30 terror tunnels that were lethally used against Israel in the operation, although it remains unclear if more yet undiscovered tunnels remain.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu said "when the mission of destroying the tunnels was completed, we pulled the forces back so as to prevent Hamas from killing our soldiers or abducting them - goals they were waiting for. Still we continued to strike from the air and killed around 1,000 terrorists of the enemy - including officials in the command echelon."

"The damage that Hamas absorbed is a blow that it hasn't absorbed in its history - a military and diplomatic blow," commented Netanyahu. "It demanded a seaport, an airport, the release of (Gilad) Shalit prisoners, Qatari and Turkish intermediaries - and didn't get them."

.....

[Eleutheria5]

Despite my own strongly-voiced-here sentiments, I will give Bibi this much, that Hamas has lost face by not getting more than a fraction of their demands and still agreeing to a cease fire, and losing face can be fatal in the Arab world.

On the other hand, it may be that they never expected all their demands to be fulfilled; they were just horse trading and really expected about what they did get. And it may be that that was what their true believers understood and expected as well, so they lost no face at all, but instead gained it as shrewd horse traders.

I can't tell which way the Ghaza street will go. While I've studied their thinking as well as I can, but anthropology and language books are at best written for non-Arabs by non-Arabs, and the famous volatility of the collective Arab psyche makes reliable predictions impossible.

But it wouldn't at all break my heart if Bibi is vindicated, and very soon the Ghaza street hangs the leaders of Hamas from lamp posts by their guts for "betraying the Ummah" and all that. Perhaps that is Bibi's hope. It beats Bonky and Blare's, even though it may be equally fatuous.

[berdie]

Since the inner workings of politics, diplomacy and war are usually hidden from public view we will see what happened/happens largely in retrospect.

It will be interesting.

[Right_in_Virginia]

But it wouldn't at all break my heart if Bibi is vindicated

And he may well be. These events are still very new.

But here's my question: Vindicated for what end? To mow the grass again in another year? Is living by the sword truly what Israelis are choosing to accept?

What is BiBi's goal, what's his endgame for Gaza and the West Bank?

Hamas was a more formidable foe than anyone, including me, expected. If the endgame doesn't include real, substantive negotiations for the people under Israel's control, or the total annihilation of the Palestinians--how do Israelis define peace?

I would appreciate your insights...because this war has left me really confused.

Thanks.

[Paladin2]

Disarm the Gaza.

[arthurus]

With the establishment of any ceasefire that does not include total Israeli takeover and occupation of Gaza Hamas survives and thus wins. Hamas is given a breathing space in which to rearm and to get more effective weapons for the next attack which will occur when Hamas or whatever Palie entity is in charge decides that they can score some points by ramping it up again.

[arthurus]

BiBi is a politician in the Western mold. There is no endgame. Everything is ad hoc.

[Eleutheria5]

Don’t know Bibi’s endgame. Can only guess at his immediate goal. If he’s doing what I think he’s doing, causing Hamas to lose face so that they Mussolinize them, I think it’s a strategic mistake. Then whoever does the deed will take over Ghaza, whether they’re ISIS or Salafists or somebody even worse. It would have been far better to have IDF destroy Hamas after a hard battle and make an object lesson of them, so the survivors think a few dozen times before f@#$ing with us again. I’m afraid that even in the best-case scenario, Bibi’s presumed goals, when achieved, will result in Israel living by the sword. Having one 11-year-old son and two infant granddaughters living with me, plus several grand nephews and one new-born nieces living nearby, this gets personal.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I’m afraid that even in the best-case scenario, Bibi’s presumed goals, when achieved, will result in Israel living by the sword

I'm sorry for the delayed response....it's been an hellacious week. Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

I'm also sorry to hear your assessment that even the best-case scenario results in Israel living by the sword. I so want Israel to live in true peace with all generations secure in their safety and contributory role in the world.

I'll keep praying.

Be well, my FRiend ....and Godspeed.