Israeli assessment: 'Hamas badly hit, but will fight on'

There are no objective reasons for this assessment.

 

'Hamas badly hit, but will fight on'
Jan. 11, 2009
JPost.com staff and Herb Keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST

 

IDF Military Intelligence Head Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin on Sunday briefed cabinet ministers on the Gaza operation, stressing the dire straits Hamas and its leadership were in.

 

According to Yadlin, Hamas had realized its error in not anticipating an Israeli response to the ongoing rocket fire, and expecting neither a ground operation nor the cold shoulder the world has shown the group.

 

He spoke of the cracks in Hamas resilience, its disconnected leadership in Syria, and its waning public support following the extensive Israeli attacks on the organization, but predicted that while Hamas realized that it had no choice but reach a compromise with Israel, it was not about to succumb, and was still capable of striking Israel and the IDF.

 

Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Yuval Diskin noted that the number of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel since the start of Operation Cast Lead was substantially lower than what security forces had predicted.

 

Diskin stressed the blow to Hamas's ability to smuggle weapons via the Philadelphi Corridor due to the IAF attacks on it, and noted that alongside the inevitable anger at Israel for the bombardments, Gazans were angry at Hamas for bringing on such devastation to the Strip. He also noted that Hamas was using the ongoing clashes in the Strip as an excuse to execute Fatah supporters.

 

Diskin said that Hamas was waiting for an agreement which would enable it to end the battles with some dignity, or reach some isolated military achievements. He also said that Iran was attempting to tighten a lethal noose consisting of Gaza, Syria and Lebanon around Israel's neck.

 

Earlier at the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the IDF was getting close to the objectives set for Operation Cast Lead.

 

The prime minister warned that what had been achieved thus far in an "unprecedented effort" must not be lost at the last moment.

 

"Israel is approaching the goals it set for itself, but we require further patience, determination and effort so that our citizens can feel safety and stability," said Olmert. "The Israeli public, especially the residents of the South, have the necessary patience and willingness - so does the government!"

 

Olmert also hit back at the mounting international criticism of the Gaza operation.

 

"No country in the world, even those preaching morals to us, would have shown the tolerance and restraint that we have," he said.

 

"We have never agreed that anyone decide for us if we are allowed to strike at those who send missiles into our kindergartens and schools, and we never will," continued the prime minister.

 

Olmert defended the Security Cabinet's decision to continue the Gaza operation in spite of Thursday's night's UN Security Council resolution which called for an immediate and durable cease-fire.

 

"I must note that UN Security Council Resolution 1860 also sharply rules out continued attacks directed against civilians and does not forbid urgent action against them," he said.

 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak emphasized that Operation Cast Lead was continuing even as diplomatic options were being examined.

 

"We are continuing to act in order to restore quiet to the South and to prevent weapons smuggling via the Philadelphi Corridor," Barak said.

 

"The IDF is operating by air, land and sea and is also exploring the diplomatic channel," he continued. "There is no contradiction between the two."

 

Commenting on the operation following the meeting, Communications Minister Ariel Atias said that he had the impression that "Olmert is seeking more public backing, and that this operation won't end till the goals are reached."

 

Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit also stated that the goals of the operation were "to bring a long-term end to the attacks on southern residents, and put an end to the smuggling. We would be happy if these objectives could be reached in other [non-military] ways, otherwise, we will continue [with the current operation]."

 

Housing Minister Ze'ev Boim was more direct in expressing the necessity of Operation Cast Lead.

 

"If we don't expose the infrastructure, including the missile-production lines, and take control of the Philadelphi Corridor, I think that in the next round [of violent confrontations] we will be hit by longer-range missiles and as yet unused weaponry, such as anti-aircraft cannons," he warned.
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