Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment;
seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of
the LORD'S anger.

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out
Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. (Zephaniah 2:3,4)
 

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

In the nine days that have passed since the Likud Party referendum on Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, Israel has absorbed an unusually
large number of losses in the Gaza Strip. Eleven Israelis have been killed
during this period - six Israel Defense Forces soldiers and five members of
the Hatuel family.

Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz will have difficulty convincing
troops to continue endangering their lives for settlements whose existence
is now protected only by the efforts of settlers to sway Likud members,
despite the opinion of the majority of the public.

From Mofaz's standpoint, the incident in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood
Tuesday was a case of extremely unfortunate timing, coming less than two
days after he said Gaza settlements were an "historic mistake," which are
not included in Israel's map of security interests.

So, if there is no security interest in Gaza, what do you say to a soldier
who needs to go out tonight on an ambush or needs to stand guard at the
settlement of Netzarim? And what do you say to his mother?

Numerous IDF commanders in the territories have been reminded in recent days
of the withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000. The experience there remains
fresh in the memories of senior commanders such as Gaza division commander
Brigadier General Shmuel Zakai (who in the spring of 2000 was commander of
the Golani Brigade and of the regional brigade along the northern border) as
well as his current brigade commanders (who then served as infantry
battalion commanders).

The waves of concern and rumors that flooded across Israel following the
incomplete media reports of a military operation in Gaza reminded many of
the uncertainty, even helplessness, during the IDF's last few months in
Lebanon when the bad news would come through on weekly basis.

Sharon is well aware of his audience's opinion. The disaster in Gaza will
accelerate Israel's disengagement from the Palestinians.

Maranatha,
David
www.soundanalarm.net