By David Frankfurter
September 28, 2005
Last Friday, during a victory parade, a Hamas truckload of missiles exploded, leaving 19 dead and over 80 wounded. Even Abu Mazen angrily slammed Hamas for their irresponsibility. An embarrassed Hamas, used to the world accepting the most ridiculous blood libels against the Jews, claimed that the rockets were dummies, and that the explosion was caused by an Israeli rocket attack. While the crowd found it difficult to believe that Israel had developed an invisible, silent helicopter, Hamas' fantasy left it with damaged pride, which it was obliged to recover via revenge barrages of Kassam rockets on the nearby Israeli city of Sderot.
Although Kassams on Sderot are not a novelty, 40 rockets and mortars over the weekend became too much - even if "only" five people were wounded. When twelve rockets fell near schools, and a school building got a direct hit, the thought of a Kassam falling in a schoolyard of children was just too much to contemplate. The city decided to close its schools until the threat was diminished. Sharon, when asked before the disengagement what would happen if the terror from Gaza did not cease, said that Israel would "know what to do". And I guess it did. Sharon sent in the planes and rockets into Gaza, blowing up munitions factories, stores, launching areas and their access points. Specific Hamas leaders responsible for the Kassams were pinpointed and killed. In the West Bank, terrorist organisers were arrested. But instead of the usual symbolic response, Sharon decided to keep his promise and the pressure was kept up for several days.
Condaleezza Rice acknowledged Israel's right to self-defence, but called on Israel to exercise restraint. Shame America did not demand restraint from the Palestinians before the terror was unleashed. Or maybe after. Instead, Condaleeza handed over a $50 million reward, to show just how the US was serious about its war on terror.
The UK also acknowledged Israel's right to self-defence, but called on Israel's response to be 'proportionate'. Well, it seems that Sharon took the advice of both the US and the UK. When the top of two buildings were brought down in the US, Britain joined her trans-Atlantic ally in completely flattening two countries - Afghanistan and Iraq. Targeted killings, massive air-strikes, tanks, shells, rockets, mortars, troops door-to-door, arrests. All proportionate. But Sharon exercised restraint. He was much less 'proportionate' than his advisors from the white houses and halls of power. He mainly bombed buildings and ammunition, and was careful that the only deaths and arrests were genuine terrorists.
And good thing, too. Because, simply stated, it worked. Hamas announced its 'retaliation' for its truck blowing itself up has been successfully completed, and the rockets and mortars on Israel will stop for now.
Of course, the international media have focused on the Israeli reaction rather than the Hamas provocation. The success of the Israeli policy, and what it might mean for peace will remain unnoticed. Except, we hope, by the Palestinian Arabs.
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