Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared that negotiating with Hamas means nothing except how to commit suicide, and Hamas proved his point this morning with another “cease-fire” rocket explosion that was heard by Gaza Belt residents but denied by the IDF.
He said in an interview to be aired Sunday by CNN, “As long as Hamas remains committed to our destruction, what’s there to negotiate with? The method of my suicide or what?”
The Jewish Press reported here earlier this morning that a rocket was launched but did not land in Israel, prompting the IDF to declare it was a “false alarm” and leading the public to think that there was no rocket launch. IDF spokesmen insisted there was no rocket fire, but residents in the Gaza Belt reported they heard an explosion.
The military’s definition of a “false alarm” is a bit fuzzy.
Spokesman told The Jewish Press Sunday, “The term means that an alarm was activated, though without any launch from Gaza. It is important for me to emphasize that each incident is a case of its own and any more information about a ‘false alarm’ is not connected to the use of the term itself.”
In clearer language, “false alarm” means there was no rocket launch – unless there was a rocket launch.
Nearly half a dozen rockets have been launched since the end of the recent cease-fire, and all of them fell in Gaza or in the sea. Several times, the IDF confirmed the launch along with stating that the Color Red siren was a”false alarm.” It appears the IDF spokesmen’s response depends on the political atmosphere.
The last cease-fire may or may remain the last one in a war that was escalated in 2005, immediately after the Sharon government expelled all Jews and withdrew all IDF personnel from to ensure safety for southern Israel.
In return, Hamas placed all of Israel within range of missile attacks until the temporary “cease-fire” two months ago that was to be followed by negotiations for a long-term halt in violence.
No one, except for perhaps Catherine Ashton and John Kerry, believes that will ever happen. Israel’s demand that Hamas dis arm makes great headlines for the vast majority of Israeli who are fed up with Hamas’ countless cease-fires that have proven to be nothing more than an opportunity for its terrorists to prepare to attack deeper into Israel in the next round.
Whether Hamas is testing rockets or simply is trying to prove its point that it can attack Israel if it wants, Sunday morning’s launch is a reminder that the cease-fire will last only as Hamas does not see any political, diplomatic or military gain in attacking again and suffering a devastating response from the IDF.
A stronger but less vocal reminder is Hamas’ continued attempts to smuggle by sea material for manufacturing weapons.
The Israeli Navy has foiled several maritime smuggling attempts in August, according to a Navy commander quoted by The Jerusalem Post Sunday. He told the newspaper, “We continue to see attempts to smuggle weapons or material to build them. The sea is a very convenient platform for smuggling. The terrorists still have one big smuggling tunnel, and it’s called the Mediterranean.”
An IDF Intelligence Unit Lieutenant Colonel told the Times of Israel, “Hamas will not relinquish its military capabilities or its military wing. The demand that it subordinate its military wing to the PA is unrealizable. For now, the talk of ‘one weapon,’ or ‘one authority’ is just talk.”