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Written by Joel Evans
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
Terror Return to Israeli Streets.
After many, many months of blessed, relative quiet, Israelis woke this morning to the horrendous news of another terrorist attack. A suicide bomber detonated himself while another was killed in the Southern town of Dimona Monday morning Israel time. There has not been a suicide attack in Israel in over a year but many expected an escalation of terrorist activity as a result of the temporary porous boundary between Gaza and Egypt.
The Hamas controlled Gaza Strip has become a haven for various extremist groups that have exploited a temporary breach in the border between Gaza and Egyptian controlled Sinai. Previously Terrorists and weapons infiltrated from tunnels dug underneath the border which did place some sort of limits (in terms of size) of what could enter the territory under Hamas control. But for about a week tunneling became unnecessary. There has been much confusion as to the real implications of the border breach and how it will effect the combatant sides. The Hamas government has gained popularity by succeeding in breaking a partial Israel imposed blockade and proving it can act in extreme dire straits if need be. The Egyptian Government, by opening the border has quelled anti –government sentiment from the more extreme elements in their own country. The Egyptians appeared as the great Humanitarian saviors by allowing the border to be torn down and allowing the residents of Gaza purchase vital food supplies. The Israelis can now completely disconnect from the strip by not supplying any more fuel and leaving basic supplies to the Egyptians.
But nothing is so simple in the Middle East. Its safe to say that the order of winners and losers in this new development should be from winner to loser. Hamas, Egypt and last Israel. The Hamas now has stockpiled middle to long range missiles that it will use when it feels the need to escalate the conflict. It has received manpower and volunteers who have volunteered to wage a holy war against Israel. When the Israeli army decides to go into the strip it will face fierce opposition from the new fighters and armaments that have been brought in during the chaos. The Egyptians did not need nor want any extra financial burden that comes with supplying the Palestinians living in the Strip with fuel, medicine or whatever else they need. They seem to have that burden now. But these considerations are "small change" compared to the extreme security situation that Israel has been put into. Today's terrorist attack is an added security nightmare to the almost constant barrage of missile attacks on Southern Israeli towns. These barrages and other attacks are likely to increase in intensity and frequency as an all out war in the Gaza strip draws near. Israel will likely not react to the Suicide attack any differently than she has in the last months. Her options are limited. Things are likely to get worse before they get better. If they get better at all! |
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