23 Jul 2018

The Arson Balloons

The demented nature of chunks of Palestinian society is hard to grasp.

For months now, Gazans have been sending flaming kites and balloons over the border fence and into Israeli fields and residential areas.

This morning one landed in an Israeli preschool.

Already, the Hamas project has destroyed thousands of acres of Israeli crops. And get this: Israel sends produce into poverty-wracked Gaza!

It’s really all quite unbelievable. Even though it’s real.

According to a report from The Times of Israel:

“The sources said that the Hamas leadership had decided to take action against the flaming kites ‘to prevent dragging Gaza into a war.’ They also said multiple parties, including Egypt, had told Hamas that the kites must be stopped ‘to prevent giving Israel an excuse to launch a major military offensive.’

“Over the past couple of years, Hamas leaders have said that they do not want a war with Israel, but also declared that their group’s military wing is prepared to fight.

“Late Saturday night, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and armed factions in Gaza went into effect, following one of the most severe exchanges of fire between the two sides since the 2014 war.

“The sources also said that the kites ‘could entirely stop next week.’”

This is all outrageous. Hamas is dictating this situation? They launch these deadly weapons, and now are allowed to “stand down”?

The Israeli strategy should be the total defeat of Hamas. Period. The West won World War 2 by demanding “unconditional surrender.” It was perhaps the West’s last great moment, and give Roosevelt and Churchill credit for understanding the Germans and the Japanese (in particular) would not stop unless they were utterly defeated.

That worked.

Netanyahu has a complex job, to say the least. A combat veteran himself, he also has to juggle political rules. Those rules are generally slanted against the Jewish state. The international community’s immoral stance regarding Israel will be a stain on human history, and will be judged by the Lord, but until then, we have to watch this ridiculous drama play out.

Notice the current Israeli response:

“Between Tuesday and Sunday, no fuel will enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but the entry of food and medicine approved by Israel will continue, Liberman’s office said. Additionally, Gaza fishermen will only be allowed to venture three kilometers (1.8 miles) into the Mediterranean Sea, down from the current six kilometers (3.7 miles), the defense minister’s office added.”

This is ridiculous. Hamas must be destroyed. After that, can the Palestinian society in Gaza be rehabilitated? After years of Arafat and Hamas propaganda, are those people sane?

Israel should send nothing into Gaza except the army.

History is full of examples of enemies who lingered. Remember when the Israelites did not finish the job with the Canaanites? Their enemies continued to nip at their heels until the day came when they were stronger than the Jews.

Today is no different. Whether it’s flaming kites, or Molotov cocktails or bus bombs…Israel should have only one strategy:

Unconditional surrender.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com