As of
this writing, over 350 rockets and mortar shells have been launched towards
Israel since Monday. Israel has attacked over 100 targets in Gaza, including
the successful targeting of the three most senior terrorist commanders in Hamas
after Mohammed Deif – the legendary commander of their military forces who has
survived five Israeli targeted assassinations.
The house
Deif was living in with his family was also attacked and destroyed, though as
of this writing it’s not clear if he was killed.
But this
is certainly not the way this week started.
At the
beginning of this week the Israeli and Palestinian delegations negotiating in Cairo
indicated that within hours they would be signing an interim agreement that
would enable a long extension of the Egyptian brokered cease fire, on a “quiet
for quiet” basis. This would give the negotiators time to finalize a framework
of understandings that will serve as a foundation for extensive negotiations
over a permanent truce arrangement.
To “sweeten the pot” for Hamas, Israel and
Egypt agreed to give in to some of their “demands”:
- The fishing limits would be extended from 6 miles to 12 miles incrementally.
- A survey and study for building a port would be commissioned to commence as soon as the security situation allowed.
- Egypt would open the Rafah crossing for longer hours; though instead of Hamas the crossing would be manned on the Gaza side by members of the elite Palestinian presidential guard.
- Israel would issue a larger number of permits for Palestinians to enter Israel for humanitarian needs from Gaza through the Erez crossing.
- Israel would double the number of food, medicine and supplies semi-trailers entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, from the current 300 to 600 a week.
- Construction material would be allowed into Gaza under strict international supervision.
- Israel and Egypt would increase the electricity and water supplies to Gaza.
- The Israeli-Palestinian Liaison office would reopen.
But all
this was contingent on an extension of the cease-fire and absolute adherence
to the “quiet for quiet” principle.
On Monday morning both sides expressed
optimism and relief that this Egyptian proposed interim deal would be signed on
Tuesday morning. Even Hamas top leader Haled Mashaal who lives in luxury in
Qatar as the guest of The Qatari ruler, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, agreed
to the interim deal.
But as the midnight hour approached on
Monday, both sides gave contradictory statements about the progress of the
talks. Egypt suggested another 24 hour cease-fire extension.
Israel agreed – but Hamas suddenly announced
that unless it got everything what it wanted, rocket fire would renew at the
stroke of midnight. Prime Minister Netanyahu said that if it did, Israel’s reactions
would become incrementally harsher.
Hamas insisted that “unless Netanyahu
capitulates” to its demands regarding a seaport, airport, ending the
Israeli/Egyptian Blockade, freeing prisoners, ending “targeted assassinations”
etc., it may conduct a “war of attrition” – a few rockets a day to different
areas of Israel - just enough to disrupt life, and maybe score more public
relations points if Israel’s response caused civilian deaths.. The IDF’s
response: “Attrition” (Hatasha in Hebrew) will be answered with
“pulverization” (Haktasha).
At first
it seemed that someone in Hamas did not get, or did not want to get the
message. Three hours before Monday’s midnight cease-fire deadline five rockets were
launched towards Beer Sheva and Netivot. Israel responded with accurate fire
towards the launch sites. Four more rockets and several mortar shells were
fired towards Israeli communities in the Western Negev area. Iron dome
intercepted two rockets above the city of Netivot; the others fell in open
areas.
Despite energetic Egyptian efforts to renew
the cease-fire for another 24 hours, claiming that the sides were “very close”
and an agreement – both Israel and Hamas announced that the cease-fire was dead
and the Cairo talks had failed.
What suddenly happened???
According to several reliable reports from
Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian negotiators, the Qatari leader, the main
supporter of Hamas and Islamic Jihad
(and more recently ISIS…), contacted Haled Mashaal on Monday, threatening
that he would withdraw all financial support from Hamas and kick Mashaal out of
the country if he signed any agreement with Israel.
So as of right now, Friday afternoon at 3:30,
Operation Protective edge is continuing. Rockets are being launched against
Israel, and the IDF is responding. A few hours ago a beautiful, smiling four
year old boy, Daniel Turgeman was killed when, upon hearing the sirens, his
parents rushed to get him and his siblings out of their car to a secure area.
Fifteen seconds were not enough. As they reached in to get Daniel, the last
one out, a mortar shell hit.
At the
moment, it looks that this war will continue until Israel completes the job,
difficult and painful as it may be, of ensuring peace, quiet and security for
its citizens.
Shabbat
shalom,
Gil Elan
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