it all depends

Submitted by alan (United States), Dec 27, 2005 at 02:43

Gaza was a test case. I was willing to experiment, painful and risky though that may be.

The experiement is failing. High explosives are now being put on Kassams. Terror leaders have nearly free passage into and out of Gaza. Rockets attacks increase.

The measured Israeli response was not the reaction I anticipated. I expected decisive action, massive shellings of infrastructure after the firing of every rocket etc.

What we are witnessing appears to be capitulation, although all the ducks have not yet returned yet.

A majority will flock to Sharon, regardless of how many latkes he eats. Why? Apparently with their eye on Hope, that elusive bird so hard to capture. A jaundiced eye sees no hope.

Yet the majority will want to make sure the decision made in the future will not be held hostage to the settlers as it now is in Likud. Maybe the majority will retreat to a Likud like stance but without the shenanigans of the settlers et al. Maybe it will not.

What is clear is that Israelis do not want a theocratic determination of their future, unlike Hamasistan. Just because they do not want a theocracy, does not mean that they want to commit suicide. They may reject completely any more strategic withdrawals in the wake of the Gaza disengagement. Who could blame them. And who could blame them for going into Gaza again if the terror build up continues. All of these latter options are not inconsistent with Kadima or Sharon.

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