The crisis seems to be deepening even as Israeli troops left the Gaza Strip yesterday. The Hamas though suffering heavy casualties in the fighting are still firing rockets into southern Israel and injuring people. The Israeli army has gone back into the strip in limited incursions but has not started the major offensive that might stop the rocket attacks. But that is not the entire picture of clashes between Palestinians and Israel. Heavy rioting has been reported in many places on the west bank or as some Israelis refer to as Judea and Samaria. These violent demonstrations are worrying those who are trying to cultivate more moderate Arabs and making any future peace deal unlikely. In fact the United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is probably very worried that any or all negotiations will be pointless for an unlimited time.
The prime minister must be feeling very beleaguered as this is developing into the third war of his tenure in office. The other two were not highly successful. A commission was set up that was very critical of his handling the last Lebanon war. He also has been facing harsh criticism based on promises made after Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from form the strip. Those promises said that Israel’s security would improve because of the withdrawal but the facts on the ground are that things have gotten much worse. The Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert has said he has a plan to stop all rockets into Israel and reach a peace deal with moderates. Based on some of his predictions in the last few years no one is really taking seriously anything he is saying.
