In going to war in Gaza in late 2008, Israeli military and political leaders hoped to teach Hamas a lesson. They succeeded. Hamas learned that the best way to fight Israel is to let Israel do what it has begun to do naturally: bluster, blunder, stonewall, and fume.
Hamas, and no less, Iran and Hezbollah, learned early on that Israel’s own embargo against Hamas-ruled Gaza was the most sophisticated and powerful weapon they could have deployed against the Jewish state.
Here in Israel, we have still yet to learn the lesson: We are no longer defending Israel. We are now defending the siege. The siege itself is becoming Israel’s Vietnam.
'Seige' is a much better word for what Israel is doing to Gaza than 'blockade' because it invokes a medieval picture of trying to starve the Palestinians to death.
Related:
Egypt Opens Border With Gaza Strip to Allow Humanitarian Aid
Israel's Vietnam? Hmmmmm. Shades of Haiphong...
We'll see what Israel does about this 'outrage', as they will no doubt call it. It won't be good.
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