Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opted for talking with Hamas instead of ordering a full-scale counterterrorist offensive in Gaza because of fear of heavy casualties and a long-term operation, TIME magazine reported Sunday. Top IDF officials also reportedly told the Prime Minister that a major offensive would not put a total stop to rocket attacks on Israel.
While talks on a cooling-off period of terrorist attacks and IDF retaliation continue, both sides are preparing for war.
Hamas leaders told TIME its terrorists, to whom the magazine referred as "militants," have "surprises" in store for Israeli soldiers, including longer-range rockets and surface-to-air missiles that can shoot down helicopters. Many of Hamas's forces have been training in Iran and Syria.
Prime Minister Olmert's option for negotiating through Egyptian mediators follows a policy he stated two years ago, when he stated, "We are tired of winning; we are tired of defeating our enemies." He made the comment to the Israel Policy Forum when he was Vice Prime Minister in the Sharon government.
We are tired of winning; we are tired of defeating our enemies
Government aides have issued contradictory behind-the-scenes comments on the status of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in the current negotiations with Hamas. Prime Minister Olmert said at the opening of the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday morning, "Releasing Gilad Shalit is an inseparable part of any agreement with Hamas for 'calm.'"
However, several sources have indicated that freeing the soldier would be "stage two" of an agreement following a halt to terrorist attacks and IDF retaliation. His release would be part of a deal in which the Prime Minister would agree to free several hundred Arab terrorists.
Several government ministers, most notably former IDF Chief of Staff and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, have urged a large counterterrorist offensive.
The current government debate on invading Gaza vs. negotiating with Hamas is precisely the situation that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said would be prevented by the expulsion of Jews and the destruction of their communities in Gush Katif three years ago under the Disengagement Plan.
"The purpose of the Disengagement Plan is to reduce terror as much as possible, and grant Israeli citizens the maximum level of security," Sharon told the Herzliya Conference in December 2003. "These steps will increase security for the residents of Israel and relieve the pressure on the IDF and security forces in fulfilling the difficult tasks they are faced with."