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| Israeli government claims mission accomplished – but public sceptical | Israeli government claims mission accomplished – but public sceptical |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Israel's political leadership claimed on Thursday that the eight-day military offensive in Gaza achieved its single goal of restoring calm to the south of the country, while acknowledging the durability of the ceasefire would be tested in the coming days and weeks. | Israel's political leadership claimed on Thursday that the eight-day military offensive in Gaza achieved its single goal of restoring calm to the south of the country, while acknowledging the durability of the ceasefire would be tested in the coming days and weeks. |
| "We had one simple goal: to restore quiet to the border," said the deputy prime minister, Dan Meridor. "That limited goal was fully achieved." However, he added, it remained to be seen whether a lasting peace was in place. | "We had one simple goal: to restore quiet to the border," said the deputy prime minister, Dan Meridor. "That limited goal was fully achieved." However, he added, it remained to be seen whether a lasting peace was in place. |
| Israel used force "in a moderate and measured way", he said. Precision targeting limited the number of casualties in Gaza, he added, noting that the 150-plus deaths over the eight days of fighting was just over a 10th of the 1,400 Palestinians killed in the 22-day Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09. | Israel used force "in a moderate and measured way", he said. Precision targeting limited the number of casualties in Gaza, he added, noting that the 150-plus deaths over the eight days of fighting was just over a 10th of the 1,400 Palestinians killed in the 22-day Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09. |
| Damage to the military capabilities of Hamas and other militant groups was extensive, after the Israeli Defence Forces targeted more than 1,500 sites. An analyst, Yossi Alpher, said: "A lot of damage has been done to Hamas's command and logistics infrastructure. This will become clear to the Hamas leadership in the coming days as they get out of their bunkers." | Damage to the military capabilities of Hamas and other militant groups was extensive, after the Israeli Defence Forces targeted more than 1,500 sites. An analyst, Yossi Alpher, said: "A lot of damage has been done to Hamas's command and logistics infrastructure. This will become clear to the Hamas leadership in the coming days as they get out of their bunkers." |
| Despite the destruction of military sites in Gaza, and Hamas's and Islamic Jihad's deployment of about 1,500 rockets during the war, there are still thought to be several thousand missiles stockpiled in the enclave. If militants from Gaza breach the ceasefire, "we will take much tougher steps next time," warned Meridor. | Despite the destruction of military sites in Gaza, and Hamas's and Islamic Jihad's deployment of about 1,500 rockets during the war, there are still thought to be several thousand missiles stockpiled in the enclave. If militants from Gaza breach the ceasefire, "we will take much tougher steps next time," warned Meridor. |
| Israel is also satisfied at the international response to the war, and the engagement of Egypt's post-revolution government, not just in brokering the immediate ceasefire deal but in follow-up agreements over Gaza's borders. | Israel is also satisfied at the international response to the war, and the engagement of Egypt's post-revolution government, not just in brokering the immediate ceasefire deal but in follow-up agreements over Gaza's borders. |
| A "new architecture in creating common interests" between Israel and Egypt may be one of the results of the offensive, said Meridor. | A "new architecture in creating common interests" between Israel and Egypt may be one of the results of the offensive, said Meridor. |
| Cairo, he said, had a vital interest in preventing arms being smuggled to Gaza and regaining control over the lawless Sinai area, on Gaza's and Israel's southern borders. There was "added value" in Egypt being part of the agreement, said Meridor. | Cairo, he said, had a vital interest in preventing arms being smuggled to Gaza and regaining control over the lawless Sinai area, on Gaza's and Israel's southern borders. There was "added value" in Egypt being part of the agreement, said Meridor. |
| Israel believes that Cairo is now locked into negotiating and then policing a detailed deal that may limit its room to respond to anti-Israel public sentiment in Egypt. | Israel believes that Cairo is now locked into negotiating and then policing a detailed deal that may limit its room to respond to anti-Israel public sentiment in Egypt. |
| It also believes that, by minimising casualties and refraining from a ground invasion, it avoided the scale of international condemnation seen during and after Cast Lead. "We had solid international support," said Meridor. | It also believes that, by minimising casualties and refraining from a ground invasion, it avoided the scale of international condemnation seen during and after Cast Lead. "We had solid international support," said Meridor. |
| Despite predictions that US president Barack Obama might seek political payback for the perceived support by Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu for Mitt Romney in the US election, there had been clear support from Washington throughout the war. Conversations between the two leaders had been "not only friendly but positive and productive". | Despite predictions that US president Barack Obama might seek political payback for the perceived support by Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu for Mitt Romney in the US election, there had been clear support from Washington throughout the war. Conversations between the two leaders had been "not only friendly but positive and productive". |
| Details of the agreement, principally over easing Israel's blockade on Gaza, still have to be hammered out in talks that were due to begin within 24 hours of the ceasefire deal's announcement on Wednesday evening. | Details of the agreement, principally over easing Israel's blockade on Gaza, still have to be hammered out in talks that were due to begin within 24 hours of the ceasefire deal's announcement on Wednesday evening. |
| The price of US support and European acquiescence in the military operation war may be heavy pressure on Israel to lift trade restrictions and allow much greater freedom of movement for the people of Gaza. Some in the Israeli government also believe the six-year blockade has proven to be a failure and are pressing for a wholesale review. | The price of US support and European acquiescence in the military operation war may be heavy pressure on Israel to lift trade restrictions and allow much greater freedom of movement for the people of Gaza. Some in the Israeli government also believe the six-year blockade has proven to be a failure and are pressing for a wholesale review. |
| Despite its leaders' best efforts to proclaim the achievement of Israel's goals, the public seemed unconvinced. A snap poll on Wednesday evening found 70% were opposed to the deal – despite only 30% saying they backed a ground invasion in a survey 24 hours earlier. | Despite its leaders' best efforts to proclaim the achievement of Israel's goals, the public seemed unconvinced. A snap poll on Wednesday evening found 70% were opposed to the deal – despite only 30% saying they backed a ground invasion in a survey 24 hours earlier. |
| With an election two months away, the cessation of violence signalled the resumption of political hostilities. Shaul Mofaz, head of the Kadima party and leader of the opposition, said: "The goals were not achieved ... Deterrence was not restored. There was no resolution. Hamas achieved exactly what it wanted." | With an election two months away, the cessation of violence signalled the resumption of political hostilities. Shaul Mofaz, head of the Kadima party and leader of the opposition, said: "The goals were not achieved ... Deterrence was not restored. There was no resolution. Hamas achieved exactly what it wanted." |
| Shelly Yachimovich, the Labour party leader, said she was "not persuaded" that the agreement was "a strategic achievement for Israel". | Shelly Yachimovich, the Labour party leader, said she was "not persuaded" that the agreement was "a strategic achievement for Israel". |
| But both parties are to the left of the ruling Likud party and are therefore unlikely to win the support of hawkish voters, according to Amit Segal, political correspondent for Channel 2. "Almost no one challenges Netanyahu from the right," he said. | But both parties are to the left of the ruling Likud party and are therefore unlikely to win the support of hawkish voters, according to Amit Segal, political correspondent for Channel 2. "Almost no one challenges Netanyahu from the right," he said. |
| Avigdor Leiberman, the hardline foreign minister to the right of Netanyahu, is running on a joint ticket in the election, eliminating him as a electoral threat. "In retrospect it was a politically smart decision to run with Lieberman" Segal said. | Avigdor Leiberman, the hardline foreign minister to the right of Netanyahu, is running on a joint ticket in the election, eliminating him as a electoral threat. "In retrospect it was a politically smart decision to run with Lieberman" Segal said. |
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