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Lessons from Israel's Wars in Gaza
RAND Corporation ^ | 2017 | by Raphael S. Cohen, David E. Johnson, David E. Thaler, Brenna Allen, Elizabeth M. Bartels, James Ca

Posted on 10/08/2023 7:46:01 AM PDT by FarCenter

For more than a decade, Israel has clashed with Hamas in Gaza, with cycles of violence defined by periods of intense fighting followed by relative lulls. This brief summarizes a report focusing on a five-year period of this conflict — from the end of Operation Cast Lead in 2009 to the end of Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

The report tells many stories and holds many lessons. It analyzes the changing face of urban warfare and how an advanced military fought a weaker, yet highly adaptive, irregular force. It also provides a case study of military innovation — showing how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) evolved operationally, organizationally, and technologically to meet ongoing hybrid challenges.

Most broadly, though, this is a story of deterrence. Israel never strived for a decisive victory in Gaza. While it could militarily defeat Hamas, Israel could not overthrow Hamas without risking the possibility that a more radical organization would govern Gaza. Nor did Israel want to be responsible for governing Gaza in a postconflict power vacuum. As such, Israel’s grand strategy became "mowing the grass" — accepting its inability to permanently solve the problem and instead repeatedly targeting leadership of Palestinian militant organizations to keep violence manageable.

Dealing with Hamas in Gaza puts Israel in a strategic quandary: It needs to exert enough force to deter Hamas from attacking but not so much that it topples the regime. As one Israeli defense analyst put it, "We want to break their bones without putting them in the hospital."

While this story is about one country, Israel, dealing with one foe, it has broader applicability—the IDF’s experiences in Gaza offer valuable lessons about using different types of military technology and operational concepts, conducting urban combat under intense legal and public scrutiny, and deterring nonstate actors.

(Excerpt) Read more at rand.org ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
The 2014 conflict was the last major conflict, although there have be a couple since.

Whether this conflict will move Israel policy from the "mowing the grass" approach to one that removes Hamas is an open question.

Removing Hamas may result in either Gaza being taken over by a more militant organization, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad or Israel having to administer Gaza directly.

1 posted on 10/08/2023 7:46:01 AM PDT by FarCenter
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To: FarCenter

Best thing would be to repatriate the Gazan population to Iran.

Send the Aqsa mosque there too.


2 posted on 10/08/2023 7:47:12 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: FarCenter

It doesn’t matter what solutions we suggest here, no one is going to listen.


3 posted on 10/08/2023 7:48:57 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: FarCenter

Many here don’t realize that the usual anti Israel forces that surround Israel like hamas and Hezbollah are much stronger than they used to be

Hezbollah in particular

Only good thing is they fight each other a lot

I haven’t gleaned what the less radical Arabs are saying


4 posted on 10/08/2023 7:54:43 AM PDT by wardaddy (Why so many nevertrumpers with early sign ups and no posting history till now? Zot them PTB)
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To: FarCenter

Don’t trust muslims.

Always be on guard.


5 posted on 10/08/2023 7:59:09 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.)
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To: FarCenter

Open up the south (towards Egypt.

Cut off electricity
Cut off water
Cut off supplies going in

Announce the road south is safe. Anyone heading south will be safe.

Then start at the north destroying everything, block by block working your way south.

Israel does not have to govern Gaza if Gaza no longer exist.

They may fight but for how long.

Give them away out so they are not trapped but take away everything that allows them to live there.


6 posted on 10/08/2023 8:02:34 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: FarCenter

“ Removing Hamas may result in either Gaza being taken over by a more militant organization, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad or Israel having to administer Gaza directly.”

Shove them all back into Egypt where they belong. Kill anyone who resists.

Then annex it permanently.

L


7 posted on 10/08/2023 8:04:05 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: BenLurkin

>>Best thing would be to repatriate the Gazan population to Iran.

The Gazans are Sunni Arabs. Hamas is an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.

The Iranians are Shiite Indo-Europeans. Other than a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” relationship, there is no affinity between Iran and Gaza.

I’m sure that Iran is willing to fight Israel to the last Gazan, just as we are willing to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian.


8 posted on 10/08/2023 8:04:17 AM PDT by FarCenter (https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/aircraft-glitch-delays-canada-pm-trudeaus-departure-india-202)
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To: Lurker

That violates all sorts of international human rights and war crime laws, many of which were put into place after WW II with the help of Jewish scholars.


9 posted on 10/08/2023 8:09:00 AM PDT by FarCenter (https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/aircraft-glitch-delays-canada-pm-trudeaus-departure-india-202)
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To: BenLurkin

The best thing to do would be for the Israelis to nuke Tehran.


10 posted on 10/08/2023 8:12:01 AM PDT by jmacusa (Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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To: metmom

Question: Why do you bury Muslims ten feet deep?

Answer: Because down deep they’re good people.


11 posted on 10/08/2023 8:15:12 AM PDT by jmacusa (Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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To: FarCenter

Irael should take back the Gaza Strip, completely.


12 posted on 10/08/2023 8:16:15 AM PDT by Rappini ("No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in it's preservation" MacArthr)
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To: BenLurkin; Pelham

What’s a practical solution honestly

They tried occupying it

That was problematic

It’s a problem the prince states etc don’t want solved

It distracts from their lofty perch privilege

Like the west treats racism and historical slavery

Just keep rubbing the wound

Lebanon and Jordan and Egypt and Syria could take them but they won’t

Hussein excelled them what 50 years ago

Black September

Shia sensibilities made em worse as Amal etc grew after Sabra and Shatilla

And the once leadership of Palestinians terrorists Christian’s died off or quit

Now it’s jihadi Palestinian nationalism with Iran backing

Pretty effing toxic

Unlike many here I think Israel can handle this

Severe punishment is about only option and be more awake mossad wise in the future

When u face a third world fatalist resistance that can’t fight straight up you know they will do ANYTHING else they can

It’s so stupid

Biggest danger though Israel faces is their birth rate and Christian Arab decline around them

Less Jews and no more south Lebanese army like the old days

It’s been fairly quiet for years thus surprised me

Lots of planning on this


13 posted on 10/08/2023 8:18:33 AM PDT by wardaddy (Why so many nevertrumpers with early sign ups and no posting history till now? Zot them PTB)
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To: wardaddy

One consequence of the Israeli Arab conflict is that the Christian communities (Palestinian, Egyptian Copts, Lebanese Maronites, Syriacs, Iraqi Christians) have been under a lot of pressure and are leaving the area.

Islamic fundamentalism like the Wahhabis have flourished, while the more moderate branches like the Sufis have not.


14 posted on 10/08/2023 8:28:04 AM PDT by FarCenter (https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/aircraft-glitch-delays-canada-pm-trudeaus-departure-india-202)
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To: FarCenter

I know a few Christians who lost their lands in the 47 or 48 war

They now several generations later have moved on and prospered elsewhere like they usually do

The Mourra family in port au prince and Miami are one example I knew well


15 posted on 10/08/2023 8:52:25 AM PDT by wardaddy (Why so many nevertrumpers with early sign ups and no posting history till now? Zot them PTB)
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To: wardaddy
The Mourra family in port au prince

Did they survive The Tonton Macoutes?

16 posted on 10/08/2023 9:01:20 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

“It doesn’t matter what solutions we suggest here, no one is going to listen.”

Agree, our clout with Israel ended the day the Neocons decided that Israel needed ‘regime change’. Netanyahu knows the United States really well and knows that both US political parties will continue to support Israel (for different reasons, but that’s beside the point), provided Israel doesn’t go overboard dealing with the Palestinians.

This attack is pretty much Israel’s Pearl Harbor moment, where they are essential free to respond as they choose, and they understand that full well.


17 posted on 10/08/2023 9:08:43 AM PDT by BobL (Trump gets my vote, even if I have to write him in; Millions of others will do the same)
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To: FarCenter
Israel taking over Gaza would be better for everyone including the Palestinians.
18 posted on 10/08/2023 9:28:54 AM PDT by Widget Jr
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To: dfwgator

Yes
They allied with Baby

I think they’ve left since

Haiti is totally lawless now

Warlord run


19 posted on 10/08/2023 9:49:17 AM PDT by wardaddy (Why so many nevertrumpers with early sign ups and no posting history till now? Zot them PTB)
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To: dfwgator

Sammy Mourra was married to baby docs wife Michelle Bennett sister Chantal

Both girls were beautiful mulattos

Which angered the darker Haitian populace

Those beauties were let’s say

Mercurial


20 posted on 10/08/2023 9:52:32 AM PDT by wardaddy (Why so many nevertrumpers with early sign ups and no posting history till now? Zot them PTB)
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