How can anybody make this argument with a straight face?

Simultaneously, Israel must communicate clearly to Hamas what the consequences of continued rocket fire would be: For example, for each rocket fired across the border, Israel would close the border crossings for a day, or destroy a certain number of targets. The advantage of this strategy is that it gives both sides the opportunity to de-escalate the violence and to save face. If the rockets do stop, the Israeli government can tell its citizens that it has secured their safety, while Hamas can tell Gazans it forced Israel to back down and achieved more freedom of movement. If the rockets continue, Israel would be free of the restraint dilemma it has confronted since the dawn of the Oslo era, while Hamas would emerge as the sole party responsible for the continuation of hostilities. Israel would then enjoy more support from its allies for subsequent military operations.

There have been exactly zero times time since Oslo when Israeli restraint - eventually finally upended by atrocities from enemies like Hezbollah and Hamas - made Israel "more free" to act. It's the precise opposite - rolling with military and terrorist attacks creates expectations that make it harder to switch back to robust self-defense. During Lebanon II Israel was told that if they accepted a temporary ceasefire and Hezbollah broke it they would have a free hand to retaliate. Of course the exact opposite happened.

The disengagement was partially justified by the promise that if the Palestinians remained intransigent after being given a state then the world would "know" that Israel had done all it could. Not so much it turns out. Then Israel showed restraint for six months while Hamas violated the ceasefire because afterwards the international community was supposed to "realize" that Hamas was behind the violence. Screwed again. But now more restraint will finally earn Israel that much-vaunted "international understanding." Sure it will.

References:
* Steven Klein / When and how will Israel end Gaza operation? [Ha'aretz]
* Here's the Thing About the Anti-Israel Media: They Lie - 48 Hour Ceasefire Edition [MR]

Previously:
* Predictable Media Meme Congealing: Israeli Self-Defense Is Bad For Obama
* Smug Liberal Sophistication Undisturbed By Decades Of Disastrously Wrong Domestic And International Predictions
* State Department, UN Make Things Up To Coerce Israeli Concessions, Scapegoat Israel When Plans Fail (Plus: Hezbollah Now Openly Bragging About Using Civilian Human Shields)