Gaza weapons factories not included in goals

Dr. Aaron Lerner
IMRA
09 August '10

Click here for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s 9.8.10 Statement Before the Turkel Commission (Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Commentary by Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

Please take note that there is a burgeoning domestic weapons production industry in the Gaza Strip. The quality of the rockets being manufactured in Gaza is constantly improving in terms of payload and range as well as accuracy.

So here is the puzzle: what is Israel's policy regarding the domestic Gaza weapons industry? Is it Israel's policy, for example, not to tolerate the existence and operation of the industry?

Before we turn to the answer, consider this excerpt from Prime Minister Netanyahu's remarks today:

"As the Prime Minister of Israel, responsible for the security of the state and its citizens, I certainly cannot ignore the true character of Hamas and the threat it presents Israel.

When I began my tenure as Prime Minister, I determined Israel’s policy with regard to this threat according to the following principles:

1.. Acting to secure the release of Gilad Shalit.
2.. Immediately responding to firing on Israel from the Gaza Strip
3.. Acting to prevent the entry of weapons and war materiel into Gaza
4.. Preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "

Yes. Preventing the entry of weapons is on the "do list". Also preventing the entry of "war material" is on the "do list".

But what about a policy not to tolerate the manufacture of rockets in Gaza?

Not on the list.

What is Israel's policy about weapons factories in Gaza?

The IDF includes them in its target bank.

That's to say: Israel won't actively take measures against a weapons factory in the Gaza Strip except as part of a reprisal attack.

This is nothing new.

From the very first day Israel retreated from the Gaza Strip it took a very clear policy: if the Palestinians don't shoot we will leave them alone. Leave them alone to build rockets, prepare bunkers, tunnels, etc. and do pretty much anything else they want to as long as they don't shoot.

Sound like an incredibly shortsighted policy?

Welcome to Israel. The land of the 24 hour planning horizon.

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