JPost has an article about US military experts who can’t understand why the IDF didn’t totally dismantle Hamas. Good question:
Representatives from the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama informed Israel they would like to see the Jewish state’s offensive against Hamas scaled back before tomorrow’s inauguration, according to a top defense official who spoke to WND. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said he was not aware of any official demand from Obama or his team. But he said members of Obama’s team made it clear to the Israeli government it would be better for them if Israel’s three-week offensive came to an end as Obama assumes office.
This is (a) too bad to check for those concerned about Obama’s effect on the US-Israel relationship and (b) from WND. So not exactly ironclad. On the other hand the Obama inauguration is undeniably playing a role in Israel’s timetable:
Gaza’s streets brimmed with energy Monday as people picked up the pieces of their lives, while Israeli officials said they planned to pull all troops from the territory by Barack Obama’s inauguration as president of the United States on Tuesday. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon planned to travel to Gaza on Tuesday to inspect the damage and visit United Nations facilities hit in the fighting. The visit will make him the highest-ranking international official to visit the territory since Hamas militants took it over in June 2007.
Israel won’t make that deadline, at least partly because the Palestinians are already openly violating the ceasefire. Which was inevitable. Which is why Israel might have wanted to finish the operation.
I could not be more giddy about the next four years.
References:
* ‘Israel won, but could have gone deeper’ [JPost]
* Source: Obama team asked Israel to end offensive [WND]
* Israel to pull out of Gaza by Obama inauguration [AP]
* Gaza gunmen fire at IDF patrols in 1st cease-fire violations [JPost]
Previously:
* Confirmed: Plurality Of Democrats Oppose Israeli Self-Defense, US Support Of Israel
* PBS: Jews Are Genetically Hardwired To Be Violent
* Hamas: How Were We Supposed To Know That The Israelis Would Go All Israeli On Us? (Plus: Cast Lead To End Tomorrow?)
