* Psychological Terror: 1)The communities of the extreme western Negev (adjacent to Gaza) do not want to return to their communities. Unlike many unfortunate impoverished people in places like Sderot, some of these agricultural communities actually have the economic means of picking up and leaving the region for a while. The desire to do so is certainly normal. They are terrified by the prospect of hidden tunnels beneath their homes. They don’t want Arabs with hatchets popping out of the floors in their kids’ bedrooms.
2) The country as a whole was placed under siege for more than a month. Children spent the summer in/near bomb shelters. Most of Israel endured weeks of sirens and long days and nights of terror. Now they will have to cope with the psychological effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The populace most vulnerable to rockets feels betrayed and frightened. They wanted to see Hamas destroyed so that they could continue their lives. They wanted this more than anything. Operation Protective Edge failed to bring them this peace of mind. Edge: Hamas
* Economic Terror: Hamas succesfully shut down the Israeli economy. Summer tourism was brought to a halt. Hamas has no industry nor do they care to develop one. Every cent that they receive either lines the pockets of Hamas leaders or is used to murder Jews. Edge: Hamas
* Deaths: Hamas killed many Jews, both soldiers and civilians. They maimed and mutilated.
And what about the injuries which always get lost in the equation?
What about young people in the prime of their lives who will now have to live with missing limbs or worse? What about those who are so disfigured that they wish they were dead?
Even the morally bankrupt leaders of Israel don’t want to see murdered Jews. Hamas deliberately puts their populace in harm’s way to increase the body count. The lives of their own people are like ants to them. Edge: Hamas
* Military Morale: By playing the kinds of games we expect from those without souls, Hamas fought the IDF to a standstill. Human shields, terror institutions built on top of “civilian” infrastructures, all of these played into their hands. They knew that Israel would be reticent to respond with collateral damage, and that the world would scream for Jewish blood if they did so. We can hear and read grumblings of frustration from military commanders and soldiers. The prestige and morale of the IDF took a hit despite the capability of the soldiers. There is no one to blame but Bibi and his Likud constituency. He had a mandate to fight, and he chose diplomacy. Hamas doesn’t need to defeat us to claim a victory. Fighting Israel to a draw and forcing them to back out is an absolute victory. Edge: Hamas
A Thin Ray Of Light
I will not spin the negative angle, yet Am Yisroel can glean some positive signs from this terrible period.
* The IDF is comprised of strong committed soldiers who can destroy Hamas and the other enemies of Klal Yisroel if given the chance. They are capable.
* From a national persective we saw unprecedented unity. Wonderful to behold after the season of Tisha Baav, since tradition cites unbridled hatred and rifts among Jews as a contributing factor behind the destruction of the Second Temple. The chesed that Jews displayed in Israel and abroad was remarkable.
But wars are fought to be won. And Jewish wars of Milchemet Mitzvah have one purpose: Destroy the enemies of Israel to protect the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Wars must be judged solely on their outcome. So let’s not candy-coat the poison pill. There was no victory. Hamas won. Even a temporary cessation of terror is a ruse. We had an opportunity to destroy Hamas, and we squandered it. Milchemet Mitzvah has no use for diplomacy, ceasefires, non-Jewish notions of humanitarian aid. When the time comes to raise the Jewish weapon of violence, war is a sacred duty and it must be fought properly and without compromise. We had an opportunity and an obligation to destroy Hamas. Netanyahu ignored the moment.
