Another Kidnapping - New Demands
Arab sources in the PA said last night, and again today, that they had kidnapped another Israeli. Eliyahu Asheri, 18, of Itamar, has not been seen since he left Beitar Illit on Sunday.
Keep in mind that the Palestinian claim has not been completely verified.
After the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, the terrorists demanded the release of imprisoned women and children in exchange for his safe return. Now, Hamas has upped its demands–threatening even more kidnappings until all Arab prisoners are released.
The article concludes with comments from MK Yuval Shteinitz (Likud)–Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the previous Knesset–who told Arutz-7 that it would be easier to find a kidnapped Israeli in the West Bank than in Gaza.
In terms of strategy, he said:
“Beyond the problem of Kassams and a kidnapped soldier, a Palestinian Hizbullah is being formed under our noses in Gaza, with tens of thousands of young Arabs training to fight against us - and yet Israel does nothing about it.”
Shteinitz said that in the short range, Israel must close down Gazan infrastructures, as well as target Hamas leaders. “Ultimately,” he said, “there will be no choice but to go into Gaza, as I have long proposed, and carry out another massive offensive like Operation Defensive Shield.”
Left unasked is why the level of attacks have been racheted up. We’ve already seen from the example of Hamas how increased status is achieved in accordance with the number of civilians killed. Also, the nature of the attack that ended in the kidnapping of Shalit required detailed planning, the attack was not in reponse to recent events. In light of the power struggle among terrorist factions, this could be an attempt to leap-frog over Hamas. Whereas Hamas merely fires rockets from the safety of Palestinian villages at civilians, an opposing terrorist faction can now brag that it goes inside and kidnaps Israelis.
For it’s part, Israel did not take the opportunity to take the initiative and lauch an immediate incursion to rescue Shalit, instead relying on diplomatic means. Hopefully they will work, but even if they do, that will not dissuade the terrorists from further attempts. And if diplomatic channels do not work, if Israel does go in, those holding Shalit have had more time to prepare.
The only other action Israel has taken is to announce that the kidnapping will not stop Israel from going ahead with it’s plans in the West Bank.
Negotiations with terrorists and a promise to retreat from the West Bank.
Not a promising strategy.
This kidnapping trend is evidence of the growing Al Qaeda link with Hamas and the other barbarians in the Palestinian entity. The military response to the terrorist attacks must be done with strength and care because the balance of power (or balance of terror) has favoured the terrorists.
I also think that in this battle against terrorism we need to adopt some techniques that conventional armies are too slow and/or too unwilling to perform. Terrorize the terrorists in such as way that each and every time they dare to carry out a mission; the response is swift and painful for the terrorists. The US needs to stop pretending that they are primarily introducing democracy to the Arab ME and admit that they are there first of all to defeat Islamic extremism and terrorism. The US needs to fully back Israel and understand that they are both fighting one and the same war. Hamas = Al Qaeda = Fatah = Islamic Jihad = Al Aqsa = Hezboullah = etc..
I am for peace and that is why Israel must defeat the enemy so that peace is re-established and terror does not have a chance to spread as it has with such ugly consequences in recent years.
Comment by Gary Gerofsky
— June 27, 2006 @ 2:14 pm
Palestinians Report IAF Air Strike - IDF Ground Movement…
|| Scroll Down for Updates
Things are tense in Israel:
Palestinians reports IDF ground movements in southern Gaza; planes and helicopters circle overhead. Following situational analysis in upper echelons, Peretz proclaims: The clock is ticking. IDF is …
Trackback by Blogs of War
— June 27, 2006 @ 6:22 pm
No, a very dumb strategy that’s the extension of “disengagement,” the dumb strategy that led to the current disaster in the first place. The only good news is, Arabs will always be Arabs, and they’ll always force Israel to take back everything they give them. That’s the dynamic we’re seeing at work tonight.
Comment by Dandaman
— June 27, 2006 @ 7:02 pm
Dandaman,
But then there’s the other dynamic–the US and Europe tend to force Israel to give back everything she takes.
Comment by Daled Amos
— June 27, 2006 @ 8:09 pm
No, it’s all part of the same dynamic. And it will keep going on until Israel takes back everything she gives the Arabs - and finally keeps it!
Comment by Dandaman
— June 27, 2006 @ 9:05 pm
Instead of waiting on the terrorist to strike and countering back with force, Israel and the US need to take a more agressive approach of hunt and kill. If the terrorist’s main objective becomes escaping death or capture they will waste more of their time and resources on that. Not only will this cut down on the number of attacks that they are able to perpetrate but it will hurt their recruiting. Young Islamic men join because they desire to kill, they will not be as interested if they are joining only to run.
Comment by RandyTexas
— June 27, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
Randy,
You may be right, but then again it is the leaders who run and hide. There are still those who sacrifice their lives for a cause and the opportunity to kill Jews. If the war in Iraq attracted Moslems from outside of Iraq–including Palestinians–to come and kill fellow Moslems, there might still be a core group that will not run and might swell in numbers.
I’m not necessarily disagreeing with what you’re saying, but I think there is distinction between the leaders who spout the ideology and those who buy into it.
Comment by Daled Amos
— June 27, 2006 @ 10:52 pm
Daled Amos, I agree that there is distinction between the leaders who spout the ideology and those who buy into it. The leaders don’t seem to be in any hurry to become myrtars while the young fanatic chomp at the bit.
But consider, the war in Iraq attracted terrorist from the outside but the letters and computer disc that were recovered in the strike on Zawqari paint a picture of a demoralized group. He stated that things were going badly and it was becoming more difficut (I guess so -he was about to have a really bad day) to operate.
It would take time and in the begining you are right, resistance would increase, but as the leadership is taken out a lot of the followers would be lost and not know what to do. They would eventually become disorganized and scattered. Cut off the head - the body will die.
The only problem with doing pre-emptive strikes is the accusations you must defend against - I believe there are cases when they are justified such as with terrorist but the policy creates a political storm that sends shock waves throughout the world.
Comment by RandyTexas
— June 27, 2006 @ 11:37 pm
That then is the issue–the length of time required to get the job done. Unlike the US, in Israel the left-wing anti-war groups are better organized and at least one of them–Peace Now–is funded by European countries. Their pressure will be more debilitating on the country’s morale, especially when you factor in the media.
And then there is Olmert…
Comment by Daled Amos
— June 28, 2006 @ 12:00 am
As Operation Summer Rains begins, another Israeli…
The IDF has entered Gaza to search for and free Gilad Shalit, the soldier who was kidnapped by PLO/Hamas terrorists (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin, who’s got more coverage here). Be sure also to read this important article by Caroline Glick, in which she ….
Trackback by Tel-Chai Nation
— June 28, 2006 @ 10:26 am
Gaza Strike Continues…
As Israel’s military incursion into Gaza continues today, the Hamas-led Palestinian government has thrown its support behind the terrorists’ demand for a prisoner swap with Israel. According to a statement issued by the Palestinian Information Minist…
Trackback by PartisanTimes.com
— June 28, 2006 @ 12:02 pm