http://fresnozionism.org/2008/12/the-pragmatic-fanaticism-of-hamas/ A pro-Israel voice from California's Central Valley Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:13:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://fresnozionism.org/2008/12/the-pragmatic-fanaticism-of-hamas/comment-page-1/#comment-6472 Vic Rosenthal Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:30:15 +0000 http://fresnozionism.org/archives/1101#comment-6472 Most of Hamas' work has gone into fortifications, doing their best to make an invasion of Gaza as expensive as possible. And then they do their best to provoke an invasion. If Hamas fired enough Grads or other more dangerous missiles, then Israel would have to respond. If that meant either invading Gaza or causing huge amounts of casualties by striking back with artillery or massive bombing, then, yes, that counts as a strategic threat because it could affect the outcome of a war. Most of Hamas’ work has gone into fortifications, doing their best to make an invasion of Gaza as expensive as possible. And then they do their best to provoke an invasion.
If Hamas fired enough Grads or other more dangerous missiles, then Israel would have to respond. If that meant either invading Gaza or causing huge amounts of casualties by striking back with artillery or massive bombing, then, yes, that counts as a strategic threat because it could affect the outcome of a war.

]]> http://fresnozionism.org/2008/12/the-pragmatic-fanaticism-of-hamas/comment-page-1/#comment-6471 Shalom Freedman Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:19:46 +0000 http://fresnozionism.org/archives/1101#comment-6471 I agree with Vic Rosenthal that a full- scale invasion and reoccupation of Gaza would probably be a mistake. Occupying and administering Gaza is one thing, we do not want to do. However one element missing in Rubin's analysis disturbs me. We hear all the time about a military build-up in Gaza, about the formation of brigades, about the building of a true military force. Rubin's article suggests that there are only gangs in Gaza. What is the truth here? And where does the force in Gaza become an offensive threat should there be a war on another front? A number of people including Jonathan Schanzer believe targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders is the most effective, and least costly from our point- of- view, method of dealing with them now. But again I am still very unclear about the military capability ( Not the capacity for disturbance of our civilian life capability) of Hamas. I agree with Vic Rosenthal that a full- scale invasion and reoccupation of Gaza would probably be a mistake. Occupying and administering Gaza is one thing, we do not want to do.
However one element missing in Rubin’s analysis disturbs me. We hear all the time about a military build-up in Gaza, about the formation of brigades, about the building of a true military force. Rubin’s article suggests that there are only gangs in Gaza.
What is the truth here? And where does the force in Gaza become an offensive threat should there be a war on another front?
A number of people including Jonathan Schanzer believe targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders is the most effective, and least costly from our point- of- view, method of dealing with them now.
But again I am still very unclear about the military capability ( Not the capacity for disturbance of our civilian life capability) of Hamas.

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