Question asked of Jerusalem Post columnists: "In light of the rampant weapons smuggling between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the one hand but also the delicate situation involving kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who is held in Gaza, should Israel launch a large-scale offensive in the strip, similar in scope to the 2002 operation 'Defensive Shield'?" For all replies, see "Burning Issues #8: Should Israel invade Gaza?"
The kidnapping of Gilad Shalit is a tragedy for this soldier and for his family and friends, but a soldier's predicament cannot be allowed to influence the fate of a nation.
Eventually, the Israeli authorities will have to take back control of Gaza's border with Egypt and will have to intervene to prevent Gaza's further militarization, effectively reversing the IDF retreat of September 2005. No one wants this step, but it is hard to see the Palestinians controlling their aggressive impulses sufficiently so that it can be avoided.
More broadly, two schools of thought exist vis-à-vis Israel and the Palestinians: the majority opinion holds that Palestinians will accept Israel only when their political, economic, and other aspirations are satisfied.
The minority one - mine - holds that they will accept Israel only when their will to make war has been crushed. Existing anarchy has started this process but it will be more expeditiously achieved when Israelis themselves can administer the defeat. (October 25, 2006)
