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Dr. Aaron Lerner is co-founder of , Independent Media Review and Analysis, an Israel-based news organization which provides an extensive digest of media, polls and significant interviews and events relating to the Israeli-Arab conflict.
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By Dr. Aaron Lerner
June 15, 2007
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Introducing an international force into the Gaza Strip would create more problems than it would solve.
At best such a force would attempt to create an aura of stability at Israel's expense.
That's "aura" because the path of least resistance for an international force is the "three monkeys approach" (hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil) when it comes to stopping the weapons smuggling and other activity contributing to the growing terror infrastructure in Gaza.
It is considerably easier to celebrate that "no smuggling activity has been observed" than to actively fight smuggling.
And with the "democratically elected" Hamas controlling Gaza, it could be expected that the commanders of such a force would opt to reach a modus vivendi with the "local central authority" rather than fight it.
The international force wouldn't control or fight the Palestinian gunmen as they prepare for battle and carry out attacks against the Jewish State -- it would instead serve as their shield.
Israel would be warned to show constraint during the "sensitive period" and not take proactive defensive measures when subject to Palestinian violence. To "give a chance" to the international force and not let "Palestinian radicals" destabilize the shaky truce.
Frustrated international commanders and their respective countries would inevitably blame Israel for their operation's problems -- asserting that if only Israel would be more forthcoming with regard to loosening security-related restrictions and concessions (e.g. release of Palestinian prisoners, "diplomatic horizon", etc.) their mission would be a success rather than an embarrassment and source of tension in relations between the contributing states and the Arab world.
But if an international force isn't the answer, then what is?
The least worst solution is an Israeli invasion.
It will be expensive. It will be difficult. But it is inevitable. And it will be even harder the longer it is postponed. Those counseling a wait and see approach are ignoring that Hamas clearly has a game plan that goes well beyond the steps it has already executed. A plan that, if completed, could have devastating consequences for Israel.
To be effective the IDF will have to operate under considerably simplified rules. Rules that give priority, for example, to the safety of the IDF troops over Palestinian "civilians" who knowingly choose to shield terrorists.
With Hamas controlling Gaza, Israel should announce a "no rifle" policy in effect, to be enforced by shoot-to-kill orders. Anyone sighted anywhere, anyplace at anytime with a rifle - including at a funeral procession -- should expect a sharpshooter's bullet between his ears.
The application of such rules won't look good on CNN, but will enjoy considerable understanding, especially compared to the grotesque tactics carried out by Hamas and Fatah forces in recent days.
It won't be easy. During Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank, Palestinian municipal service providers frequently opted to cooperate with Israel as they put their civic responsibilities over their politics. It remains to be seen if the same will be the case in Gaza.
When Prime Minister Olmert's team first started preparing for his trip to Washington, the idea was to come up with at least the outline of a diplomatic initiative -- as much to meet domestic needs (keep the coalition intact while acquiring "etrog" status to protect Olmert against indictment and media criticism) as to placate the White House.
Developments in Gaza make that all irrelevant now.
Perhaps the wisest move Olmert could make in light of the crisis would be to postpone the visit and immediately re-juggle his cabinet (Ehud Barak replacing Peretz as defense minister, etc.) so that his team can then address this pressing challenges without all the distractions it now has to deal with.
Views expressed by the author do not
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