Operation ‘Go Nuts’ is a success so far — but for how long?

Gil

'Who was the most important enemy: Hamas or the Israelis, I asked. Hamas, everyone told me. They had to be dealt with before anything else could be accomplished.'

Paul Wood, thank you for stating this. Many have forgotten already the murderous actions of Hamas when they massacred Fatah oepratives inc. throwing them off rooftops.

The Hamas are they enemy of all peace loving people.

Susie

"Many of the television pictures that came out of Gaza were too graphic and horrific to broadcast". Perhaps viewers should at least be given verbal descriptions, on the lines of those vividly provided by Paul Wood, as this might put them in a better position to judge the impact of such images in the Arab and Muslim worlds where they are more likely to be shown. Once again, as with Iraqi, viewers in the West and East are witnessing "different" wars.

Manuel

".... that before the Israeli attacks, Hamas were set to consider more peaceful terms. Towards the end of the ceasefire last week, they allowed the rocket fire to steadily escalate, some say in order to negotiate better terms for the next truce".
So according to Paul Wood and presumably the BBC, it is perfectly acceptable for Hamas to allow its 'cease-fire' to escalate in order to negotiate better terms. In that case, he must have no problem with Israel adopting the same strategy. After all, that is what Israel says it wants in Gaza, a new order and cesation of hostilities.
Why does he make no reference to the 7 years and over 6500 missles fired indiscriminately into Israel, what his BBC boss describes as "relatively crude rocket attacks"? These "relatively crude" rockets are designed to kill Israelis anywhere, anyone, anytime,children in school, hospitals etc.. The IAF is targetting prime military infrastructure, unlike the terror missiles.
Hamas could have negotiated better terms if it had been prepared to talk peace, a real peace, instead of encouraging an escalation. It sewed the seeds and reaping the whirlwind. Suprised? Be not!!

Joe Camel

One of the most worrying things I've seen about the air raids so far is this, in Haaretz:

“The Military Intelligence assessed Tuesday that the air offensive has destroyed one-third of the Hamas rocket arsenal, Channel 10 television reported.”

Only a third? Two-thirds still available and in working order? Not good.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051234.html

KJH

Israel should tell the world that for every rocket fired from Gaza two will be fired back. Then,just maybe, the good citizens of Gaza will get rid of Hamas. I know, I dream.

Ron

The Go Nuts campaign we see now has been tried and tested in Lebanon and contrary to many commentators has proved itself to be effective. Yes, the ground offensive was unsuccessful but the intensive bombing convinced Hezbollah to seek a cease fire and caused their leaders to go into hiding ever since. Ironically, the less successful the ground offensive the more intensive the aerial assault would be which will result in a greater deterrence. The fruits of the ‘failed’ Lebanon war are now being picked with Hezbollah too cautious to open a second front and quite happy to let Hamas go it alone.
At the end of the day Israel is seeking deterrence and that just might be the ways too do it.

David

The simple truth is that Israel politicians have been embarrassed and frustrated over the past 12 months as their modern and sophisticated armed forces — the most powerful in the region — have proved unable to stop crude rocket fire from Gaza.

Not a very insightful "truth", Paul! Yes, of course Israeli politicians are frustrated by the many thousands of incoming missiles aimed at their population. Yes, of course they're frustrated by the fact that there's nothing that they - or any other country or military system in the world - can do to prevent the thousands of incoming missiles.
That's why they decided to launch the current military initiative! Why not start your analysis of the Israeli military response from basis of that simple "truth".

John

Get ready England, the time will come when you own Moslem minority will start the Jihad on you!

Henry Wood

Is Paul Wood from the BBC? I ask because of the disinformation he states about the greatest Palestinian losses since 1948. I think proper investigation will show they suffered most when Jordan kicked them out, fearful that Jordan was about to be taken over by them. And before they all miraculously became "Palestinians" they were known as Jordanians.

Elias

The author makes a mistake by saying Israel withdrew from Lebanon bloodied and humiliated - no, Israel was winning the war with Hizbollah and it was the premature UN resolution which made Israel stop the successful offensive. In general Mr Wood produced a a ridiculously one-sided article: Israel needs to protect her citizen by any means available against steady rocket fire into her sovereign territory. HaMaS is an Islamist terrorist organization and I sincerely hope Israel will rout them out as soon as possible.

Stephen Rothbart

What Israel achieved in Lebanon was to get an international force of monitors into a neutral situation where few if any rockets are fired by Hezbollah into northern Israel now.

I suspect that this is their tactic today. The world is rightfully appalled by the slaughter of mainly innocent pawns in this game between Iran and Israel, but as usual has decided to only point the finger of blame at Israel. But hopefully their outrage will result in their insistance that a neutral monitoring force be imposed also in Gaza.

This is what peace loving Israelis and Palestinians need.

Paul Wood fails to condemn the actions of this misguided hateful woman, it seems her actions are some how condoned by what he perceives as equal hatred from Israel.

The difference is that Hamas, by their own words, love death, and Israelis love life, so there is no equivalance.

While China and Russia continues to support Iran in the UN there will be no settlement in Palestinian Gaza without a peacekeeeping force, Israel realizes that, and this is probably their aim from this war.

Dr M Grave

Shallow, one-sided drivel. Exactly what one expects from the vile and bigoted BBC.

Felix

The usual left-wing rabble: "don't disturb the terrorist or he will shoot". Perhaps it is time to wipe the terrorist out?

elfraed

"War to the bitter end."
In real terms, that would mean a fight to the death for the Palestinians, or being driven into the desert beyond rocket range of Israel.
All that it means in "politco-speak" is: "Repeat as necessary".
The US has had no better success, having been to Iraq twice, so far, and if one counts the US assistance rendered Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation, twice there also.
It is never ending.