I’m going to be honest, no surprise, and tell you that I just don’t think that Israel won this war or this round of the ongoing war between us and the Gazan Arab terrorists who have been terrorizing Israel and Israelis for well over a decade.
It’s rather peculiar for me to be agreeing with Hamas:
“Gaza is Free”. Hamas’ “Victory” Videos
and: Hamas declares victory as Israel withdraws from Gaza under U.S. pressure
TEL AVIV — Israeli infantry and armored units have been withdrawing from the Gaza Strip amid plans to suspend the offensive against Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies. The Israeli military said it was close to demolishing all of Hamas’ weapons tunnels, including those that penetrate Israel.
“Our understanding is that our objectives, most importantly the destruction of the tunnels, are close to completion,” military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said. The withdrawal came amid U.S. pressure for an immediate and unilateral ceasefire by Israel. During the 25-day campaign, at least five Israeli ceasefires were violated by Hamas in which nearly a dozen soldiers were killed and another abducted. “It has failed to achieve any of its goals and would be a clear defeat for the occupation army and for its leaders,” the Hamas bloc in the Palestinian Legislative Council said. “Gaza resisted, endured and will achieve victory.”
The State of Israel isn’t willing to take over Gaza. We keep on doing “maintenance work” to make life livable for Israelis in the south. There are now going to be more shelters, protected rooms etc. This is the real-life version of the joke I’ve blogged before:
For years Israeli governments have been enacting the punchline of the old joke about how various nations react to the news that G-d will be flooding the world again, in “two months.” While the other nations try to figure out how to send maximum numbers of people out in spaceships and the like the Israeli says: “Now we have two months to learn how to live underwater.”
It’s no longer funny. It’s very depressing.
Just a few days ago, the media here was full of interviews and quips by soldiers saying how determined they are to finish the job. Now, we see the soldiers happy to get home. Commentators remind us to turn on the hot water boiler, so there will be enough water for good baths and long showers.
The media just can’t control what the various mayors and others who will have to take responsibility down south are saying. They’re not buying it. They know that many residents are house-hunting in safer places.
Sorry, but I’m not in the mood for an upbeat blog post tonight.