The Annapolis summit is barely over and already the Jerusalem Post reports that the Israeli army might believe the time is ripe for an invasion into the Gaza Strip. Army Officials say this might benefit the Palestinian Authority.
The peace talks will have to start in earnest and Israel has held off taking direct action in the Hamas controlled Gaza strip to not be seen as the party pooper. But its patience is expected to run out soon.
An article headed ‘Is this the time for a Gaza operation?’ reports that "the [Israeli] defense establishment began gearing up for the possibility that Defense Minister Ehud Barak, upon his return from the United States, will order a large-scale military operation into the Gaza Strip."
The timing of such an intervention will be manoeuvered with careful deliberation if Israel is not to derail the peace process that’s been set in motion during the Annapolis Conference. In this respect, it is hopeful that it has refrained thus far from the expedition.
That does not mean that Ehud Barak’s itching to get at it. He has publicly stated on various occasions during the past few months that it is only a matter of time. "With every day that passes Israel draws closer" to war in Gaza.
The IDF wants to prevent the build up of Hamas military in the area and stop the Kassam rocket attacks that are launched reportedly incessantly from there.
"However Barak has refrained from recommending such an operation to the cabinet until now, out of fear that it would have brought about the cancellation of the talks", the Jerusalem Post says.
It quotes defense officials as saying that Israel had been loath to run the risk of being blamed for ruining the summit. He added that now the country might believe it is the right time for a move. "Once that the summit is over, there is an opportunity to go into Gaza and strike back at Hamas," the paper quoted the defence source as saying.
A new development in the assessment of the chances for peace coincides with this very deliberation to send the Israeli army into Gaza. It is the idea that an Israeli intervention in Gaza might mean that the army would side with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. "By having the IDF weaken Hamas, his Fatah Party might be able to regain control there", the Jerusalem Post says, citing army analysts.