Reconsidering Israel's "Quiet For Quiet" Policy In The Wake of Regional Developments - by Dr. Aaron Lerner

...The longer we postpone demolishing the military threat that has built up during "quiet for quiet" the greater the danger that attack capability is used as part of a larger operation against us.

Dr. Aaron Lerner..
IMRA Weekly Commentary..
16 November '17..
Link: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=72892




As costly as it may be to act now, it could very well be the best choice of action.

"Quiet for quiet" has been Israel's operative policy ever since PM Ehud Barak's hasty retreat from Lebanon. Israel limits itself to attacks in the north against equipment still in Syria. "Quiet for quiet" applies once equipment reaches Lebanon, regardless of its nature.

That same policy, according to which the enemy can literally do anything and everything in preparation to attack Israel without being subject to an Israeli response, was extended to the Gaza Strip after PM Sharon's retreat.

Defense ministers, IDF chief of staff's and prime ministers all embraced "quiet for quiet", confident that it would be child's play for the mighty IDF to neutralize whatever assault capabilities the enemy managed to amass under "quiet for quiet".

But that was only part of the story.


The worst case outcome was not seen as particularly costly for the Jewish State: a photo op temporary Hezbollah flag planting in some Israeli border community and some dead Israelis and Israelis taken hostage in the south.

Unpleasant yes. But not critical.

The problem with this approach is that it assumed that, at most, the IDF has to deal with two fronts - Hezbollah in the north and Hamas etc. in the south.

But now there's actors, especially Iran, to take into account.

With a very real possibility that things may get a lot worse in the neighborhood before it gets better.

Back to "quiet for quiet".

The longer we postpone demolishing the military threat that has built up during "quiet for quiet" the greater the danger that attack capability is used as part of a larger operation against us.

As costly as it may be to act now, it could very well be the best choice of action.

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis: Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on Arab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il

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