The Israeli operation 'Cast Lead' in Gaza, with all the human tragedy as with any war, is nearing its successful conclusion.
It arises the question: How to proceed concerning 'Hamas', the islamofascist organisation that had established a totalitarian grip over Gaza and is built around the single purpose of waging total and perpetual war against Israel until its aim of annihilation of the people of Israel would be achieved, and which stands against everything progressives value?
Ha'aretz reports:
In a series of blows during the past 24 hours, the most severe since the Israel Defense Forces operation began in the Gaza Strip 20 days ago, Hamas was brought very close to surrender.
... the Israeli military pressure has destroyed most of the Palestinian defenses in the heart of Gaza City, a day after the group had to agree in principle to the Egyptian proposal for a cease-fire a deal it is not very happy with. ...
The situation as of last night was as follows: Said Sayyam and Salah Abu Shreich, two senior Hamas figures, were killed in an air strike in Jabaliya. The home of another Hamas leader, Mahmoud al-Zahar, is surrounded. Infantry, armor and special forces are operating in the center of the city, very close to the Hamas "security quarter" southwest of the city, where most of the command and control centers of the group are situated. ...
I recommend you read the full article for a complete picture.
At its end, the article asks:
The latest developments have contributed to optimism in Israel. However, those who are still toying with the idea of bringing down Hamas entirely should weigh what is best: a weakened Hamas or complete anarchy in the Strip, with no one in power to threaten or to make indirect agreements with? Gaza can still deteriorate into another Somalia.
My idea is that there is no realistic hope that an organisation built around total and perpetual war will ever be a able to be a partner in peace. The comparison with Hezbollah, which became an at least non-belligerent organisation after the heavy hits it had to take in 2006 is not so much convincing, as Hezbollah serves a distinct constituency (Lebanese Shia Arabs), while 'Hamas' has much competition in representing Palestinian Arabs.
So my conclusion would be: Bring in Fatah's enforcer Mohammed Dahlan to clean things up.
In the medium term, there should - and no doubt will - be another opportunity for the Palestinian Arab people of Gaza to develop their strip into a "Singapore of the Mediterranean" and leave Israel alone. Let us hope for every man, woman and child in Palestine that they will not blow it again.