November 23, 2012, 5:34 AM
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The cease-fire agreement that Israel accepted Wednesday night to end the current round of Palestinian rocket and missile attacks is not a good deal for Israel by any stretch of the imagination.
At best, Israel and Hamas are placed on the same moral plane. The cease-fire erases the distinction between Israel, a peace-seeking liberal democracy that wants simply to defend its citizens, and Hamas, a genocidal jihadist terrorist outfit that seeks the eradication of the Jewish people and the destruction of Israel.
Under international law, Israel is not just within its rights to defend itself from Hamas. It is required to. International law requires all states to treat Hamas terrorists as criminals and deny them safe haven and financing. But the cease-fire agreement requires both the Israeli policeman and the Hamas criminal to hold their fire.
At worst, the cease-fire places Israel beneath Hamas. The first two clauses require both sides to end hostilities. The third suggests Israel is expected to make further concessions to Hamas after the firing stops.
Then there is the cease-fire's elevation of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood government to the role of responsible adult. Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egyptian President Muhamad Morsi openly supports Hamas. Morsi sent his Prime Minister Hesham Kandil to Gaza to personally express the Egyptian government's support for Hamas's criminal assault against Israeli civilians.
Over the weekend, Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood held what the media claimed was a stormy meeting. Its members were split over what to do about Israel. Half wanted to go to war with Israel immediately. The other half called for waiting until the Egyptian military is prepared for war. In the end, the voices calling for patient preparation for war won the day.
And for their patience, the Muslim Brothers received the plaudits of the US government. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her boss President Barack Obama were effusive in their praise of the Egyptian government, and joined Egypt in placing Israel on the same moral plane as a terrorist group.
Moreover, Obama and Clinton compelled Israel to accept wording in the cease-fire that arguably makes Egypt the arbiter of Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the agreement.
Aside from the administration's de facto support for the Hamas regime in Gaza, it is hard to think of a greater humiliation than Israel being forced to submit complaints to its sworn enemy about the actions of the sworn enemy's terrorist client.
And yet, for all of that, it isn't clear that Israel had a better option than to sign on the dotted line. Israel might have gotten better results if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had ordered the ground forces poised at the border to take out a few Hamas ground installations. It certainly would make sense for Israel to end Gaza's electricity supply.
But as it stands today, a full-blown ground invasion in the mold of the 2002 Defensive Shield Operation, where Israel seized control of Judea and Samaria from Palestinian terror groups and reasserted its security control over the Palestinian areas, so ending the Palestinian terror onslaught against Jerusalem and central Israel, was not in the cards.
Israel is in a strategic trap. And it is one of its own making. Starting with the Rabin-Peres government's decision to embrace the PLO terrorist organization as a peace partner in 1993, Israel has been in strategic retreat. Each incremental retreat by Israel has empowered its worst enemies both militarily and diplomatically and weakened the Jewish state militarily and diplomatically.
In May 2000, following years of political agitation by the radical Left, then-premier Ehud Barak ordered the IDF to retreat from Israel's security zone in south Lebanon. Hezbollah immediately seized control over the border area. Within months it kidnapped and killed three IDF soldiers and held them for ransom - hiding the fact that they had been murdered. The same Barak-led government that withdrew the IDF from south Lebanon was loath to acknowledge the failure of its policy and so did nothing when the three soldiers were kidnapped.
Within six years, Hezbollah was strong enough to launch an all-out missile war against Israel.
Facing them was the government that had just carried out the withdrawal from Gaza. The governing strategy of Ariel Sharon's heirs, Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni, was based on surrendering land and demonizing as warmongers those who opposed surrendering land. When Hezbollah attacked Israel in July 2006, Olmert and Livni were in no position to order a serious ground invasion of Lebanon. And since that was the only way to win the war, Israel lost the war, paving the way for Hezbollah's subsequent takeover of the Lebanese government.
As for that withdrawal from Gaza, just like the phony peace process with the PLO and the strategically demented withdrawal from south Lebanon, the withdrawal from Gaza was a self-evidently insane policy. It was obvious that it would lead to the strengthening of Palestinian terrorist groups and so put Israel's population centers in striking range of their missiles.
After both the Oslo process and the withdrawal from Lebanon left Israel strategically and diplomatically weakened, with its politicians, generals and its very existence brought before international tribunals and targeted by diplomatic pogroms, there was no basis for the empty claim that by withdrawing from Gaza, Israel would gain international legitimacy to defend itself.
By leaving Gaza, Israel was saying - as it had in Lebanon - that it had no right to be there. And if it had no right to be there, it had no right to return.
To force this mad initiative through, Sharon had to explicitly disavow the platform he was elected to implement. Sharon won the 2003 elections by pledging never to surrender Gaza.
After he betrayed his voters, Sharon demonized and, when possible, fired everyone in positions of power and influence who opposed him.
He called a referendum of Likud members to vote on his plan, and when his opponents won the vote overwhelmingly, he ignored it. He fired Lt.-Gen. Moshe Ya'alon, then IDF chief of General Staff. He fired his cabinet ministers. He castigated as "rebels" his party members who opposed his plan.
Moreover, with the active collusion of the legal system, Sharon violently repressed his political opponents. Young girls were thrown into jail without trial for months for participating in anti-withdrawal demonstrations. Privately chartered buses en route to lawful demonstrations were interdicted by police and prevented from traveling.
Protest organizers were arrested in their homes at 3 a.m. And with the active collusion of the media, all debate on the merits of the withdrawal plan was stifled.
As bad as it was in Israel, the situation in the US was arguably even more devastating. Since Oslo, Israeli opponents of the Left's strategic insanity were intellectually and politically buoyed by their conservative counterparts in America.
The latter helped legitimize political opposition and enabled the conceptualization and maintenance of alternative policies as viable options.
Despite government repression, some 45 percent of Israel's Jewish population actively participated in anti-withdrawal protests. In the US, virtually no one supported them. The absence of opposition owed to the fact that in America withdrawal opponents were boycotted, demonized and blacklisted by the American Jewish community and the previously supportive conservative media.
During the years of the fake peace process, conservative US Jewish groups and conservative publications led by Commentary, The Weekly Standard and The Wall Street Journal forcefully opposed it. But when Sharon joined the radical Left by adopting its plan to withdraw from Gaza, these formidable outlets and institutions enthusiastically followed him.
Leading voices like former Jerusalem Post editor and Wall Street Journal editorial board member Bret Stephens, Commentary editors Norman Podhoretz and Neal Kozodoy, commentator Charles Krauthammer and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol not only lined up to support the dangerous planned withdrawal. They barred all voices of opposition from the pages of their publications.
To greater and lesser degrees, their shunning of voices that warned against the Gaza withdrawal continues to this day.
So, too, with the exception of the Zionist Organization of America, every major American Jewish organization supported the withdrawal.
Like the editors of Commentary, the Weekly Standard and the Wall Street Journal, they barred voices of opposition from speaking to their groups.
All commentators who warned of the strategic calamity that would befall Israel in the aftermath of a withdrawal from Gaza were marginalized and demonized as extremists.
In a notable gesture, this week, Stephens along with Commentary's Max Boot, acknowledged their error in supporting the withdrawal from Gaza. Their recantations are noteworthy because most of their colleagues who joined them in pushing Israel down the garden path and cheered Sharon's "democracy" as 8,500 Israelis were thrown out of their homes and off their land in order to free it up for a terrorist takeover, continue to deny that they were wrong to do so.
But Stephens's and Boot's belated intellectual integrity on Gaza is not enough to make a difference for Israel today.
Israel has only two options for dealing with the ever-escalating threat from Gaza. It can try to coexist with Hamas. This option is doomed to failure since Hamas seeks the annihilation of the Jewish people and the eradication of Israel. Recognizing this state of affairs, in a public opinion survey taken on Wednesday for Channel 2, 88% of Israelis said that a cease-fire with Hamas will either not hold at all or hold for only a short time.
74% of Israelis opposed accepting a cease-fire.
The other choice is to destroy Hamas. To accomplish this Israel will need to invade Gaza and remain in place. It will have to kill or imprison thousands of terrorists, send thousands more packing for Sinai, and then spend years patrolling the streets of Gaza and arresting terrorists just as it does today in Judea and Samaria.
Whereas the first option is impossible, the latter option is not currently viable. It isn't viable because not enough people making the argument have the opportunity to publish their thoughts in leading publications. Most of those who might have the courage to voice this view fear that if they do, they will be denied an audience, or discredited as warmongers or extremists.
So they remain silent or impotently say that Israel shouldn't agree to a cease-fire without mentioning what Israel's other option is.
The millions of Israelis who opposed the withdrawal from Gaza do not seek personal vindication for being right. They didn't warn against the withdrawal to advance their careers or make their lives easier. Indeed, their careers were uniformly harmed.
They did it because they were patriots. They felt it was their duty to warn their countrymen of the danger, hoping to avert the disaster we now face. They should be listened to now. And their voices should be empowered by those who shunned them, because only by listening to them will we develop the arguments and the legitimacy to do what needs to be done and stop fighting to lose, again and again and again.
Originally published in The Jerusalem Post.
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"They did it because they were patriots." Caroline, are you a patriot? I know you are. Please run for office and set things right!!!
What is holding you back? St. Michael the Archangel is at your side. God is at your side! Just do it!
What about a third option? Invade, destroy and leave. Root out as many terrorists as possible, destroy missle sites, tunnels,etc. It's not a permanent solution, but more permanent than the cease-fire. Sure, they will re-arm, but Hamas can be significantly weakened. Yes, many will flee to Egypt and wait to return, but rebuilding will be greatly delayed. Had the US done this in Iraq and Afghanistan it's military strength would not have been so discredited. And American could not be so easily labeled as occupier. True, Israel will be condemned as occupiers by the left should it enter Gaza, but can cut any diplomatic losses by leaving after doing the job. And years later, when the rockets start up again, do it again.
Without any doubt Hilary Clinton was sent to Israel to force an agreement between us and Hamas or else. That Egypt was chosen as the mediator bodes ill for the continued well being of the Jewish state. Unfortunately when 70% of America's Jews helped to reelect Obama for a second term they failed again to accept a salient fact. The Obama administration by word and deed have strongly indicated where their true sympathies lie and it is definitely not with Israel. Giving up Gaza was a tragic mistake, but the deed is done Land for peace has never worked especially with enemies whose only desire is to annihilate us as a people. We should have gone into Gaza this time. Of course the world would see us as criminals. They always do. Israeli leadership must change. Israel needs the type of leaders who are more concerned for the well being of the Jewish homeland then what people might say.
Caroline. Are you running for office anytime soon? Thanks once again for a job well done. You are a true Aishet Chayil. Shabbat shalom and HaShem's blessings on you, your loved ones and all Klal Yisrael.
I thought you might find these interesting.
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1112/washington_hands_off.php3#.UK9znlKfbit
US approach to Gaza-Israel talks shows new reluctance to referee Mideast conflicts
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2012/11/pamela-geller-wnd-weekly-column-.html
Pamela Geller, WND weekly column: Obama's Jews for Hamas - Atlas Shrugs
'a full-blown ground invasion in the mold of the 2002 Defensive Shield Operation.... was not in the cards' because the secular,faith challenged political leadership of Israel have been successfully castrated by the America Idol they serve and obey as they lead Israel to the gates of hell.
One thing this war has proven is what spineless,empty suits secular Jewish politicians are,always showing their fear of worthless world opinion that puts them in a straight jacket to lose again and again.
They collapse immediately under minimal pressure.
The destroyer Obama sent his secretary Clinton in to castrate Israel's leaders and she succeeded.
Since Obama threatened them (ISRAEL) they should have threatened right back,they didn't because America is the only god they know and serve and now Israel is squeezed into an even tighter corner.
Netanyahu the empty suit and the other losers did so without even a fight.
Sadly the fearful,ALWAYS retreating secular rulers of Israel can't stand up to any pressure and almost instantly capitulate.
This is the second war with Hamas where Israel has failed to permanently end their threat,leaving them to grow stronger than before ..again !
This is why Hamas are celebrating and the three castrated tenors of the soon coming apocalypse have to work hard to spin this major loss for Israel with dubious media hype and lies.
God has set the stage for the next war to be the worst the world has ever seen in history.
Egypt,Lebanon,Jordan,Syria,Iran and the Islamic world have been encouraged by how easily Israel was restrained and this will feed their desire for all out war.
Judgment day destruction,'Sampson Option'on Israel's surrounding enemies is close.
Israel no longer has a choice in the matter except to be annihilated.
You should thank your American Idol for all of this.
Invade, level Gaza, expel ALL current Gaza residents and permanently annex Gaza.
This has been a nasty diversion from the realities of Iran working on nuclear weapons.
Further, it enhances the power of Egypt's present leaders, along with Iran's proxies, Hamas, et al, not to forget it also aligns with Obama's pro muslim, anti Israel beliefs and intents.
In other words, Israel still has a big "bullseye" painted all over it's land and citizens, while losing the public relations perspective.
All out, classical warfare is not wanted by modern societies, more of limited police actions where "bad guys" can be spotted, civilians not harmed...except for "civil wars" such as Syria and soon to be Jordan.
One needs a conflict where one side "unconditionally surrenders" to the other--the victor, before real efforts at peace can take hold.
Note the kids with weapons on the muslim side celebrating with the "adults" the cease fire: You can't stop breeding hatred until you have won a true victory over such people.
History tells us this story, time and time again. The nature of man, so to speak.
Good luck on holding a losing hand...Pray that the "one step too far" event won't be a nuclear bomb built by Iran falling on Israel!
So we have a cease-fire with an organization which in its Charter has the following Article 7:
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/1609.htm
"The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, so that the Jews hide behind trees and stones, and each tree and stone will say: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,' except for the Gharqad tree, for it is the tree of the Jews."
Article 7 is taken from Hadith Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 177 and quotes the Prophet Muhammad:
http://www.hadithcollection.com/sahihbukhari/85/3715-sahih-bukhari-volum...
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."
Anybody wants to guess what has greater sway over Hamas - the terms of cease-fire agreement or the words of the Prophet?
"The people will believe what the media tells them they believe."--George Orwell. There's nothing to add.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Since all of the surrounding nations are enemies of Israel. My answer is I would rather be damned for doing! In so doing destroy the enemies ability to cause mayhem, murder, all those "M" words muslims are known for. If Israel will not attack, they will be attacked relentlessly. Until intervention by THE ALMIGHTY is required. Perhaps this is what is happening. G-D is setting the table for the utter destruction of those who hate G-D's chosen. Those who are named in honor of HIS name. '...therefore, say to the house of Israel, Thus says the LORD G-D, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I AM about to act, but for MY HOLY NAME..." "...Then the nations will know that I AM the LORD," declares the LORD G-D, "when I prove MYSELF HOLY among you in their sight."
Shalom!
Grace and Peace to you all!
Mike's "third way" is what I advocate generally as a strategy not only for Israel, but the US as well. Naturally I don't advocate such a common sense approach for enemies of civilization.
Yet that is what Gen. Powell advocates, a moral theory "if you break it, you fix it". At some level, Powell opposes western civilization; which is why he endorsed Obama both times.
There is no way that America could occupy Iraq or Afghanistan and fundamentally change their society. By installing democracy, we made the situation worse; because the mob might be more ignorant and enraged than an authoritarian ruler.
Theoretically this could be done, with virtually unlimited resources and time. But with Dar al-Islam, we are not dealing with a civilization gone astray, like in Japan or Germany; but with an antithesis of civilization.
Islam and mysticism must be rooted out in their entirety. The easiest way to do that, is to destroy their predatory economy, based primarily on nationalized oil, and also subsidies from prohibition and welfare.
Suppose someone shoots at you, and you shoot back, injuring him. You are under no moral obligation to pay his hospital bill or support his family.
Gazans have voted for Hamas, because Hamas reflects public sentiment. Of course that sentiment is manufactured by forced indoctrination, starting at an early age. Even worse than Hitler Youth.
When you've dug yourself into a hole, the first tactic to adopt is to stop digging. Don't provide money or electricity or any subsidy to Gaza.
In the long run, we must realize that governments arise spontaneously to either protect person and property, or for looting and murder. Destroying bad governments is easier than installing good ones. Because to have good government, requires a civilized populace.
The modern age is characterized by (inter alia) increased travel and communication across borders. Mobility is the key to success in warfare; static defenses are a maginot line.
Ideally governments would compete within the same geographical area, and to assert monopoly in the provision of governing services is estatist. Governments would then compete, either by good governments destroying bad governments, or good governments offering better deals to their clients.
Where is Joshua, Judas Maccabee and the great leaders and deliverers of Israel of old? Now is the time for a man with the heart of Joshua to rise to the surface of Israel's ranks and utterly destroy every man, woman and child in the enemy's camp including their livestock and blot them from the face of the earth! Pay no heed to the bleating of the black hearted liberals who would have Israel lie down like a whore over concerns of world opinion. Is this not the promised land? Are these not G-d's chosen people? We wait with breathless anticipation for the coming of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
It has to be said.
7 The Law of the Lord is perfect;
it gives us new life.
His teachings last forever,
and they give wisdom
to ordinary people.
Psalms 19. If only one policesystem in Israel could function in the Law of the Lord.…
The seculars don't have to understand.
You can't blame the entire population for not being able to understand.
Some cops, though, must be able to (understand)
Jerusalem, I will speak up
for your good.
I will never be silent
till you are safe and secure,
sparkling like a flame.
2 Your great victory will be seen
by every nation and king;
the Lord will even give you
a new name.
3 You will be a glorious crown,
a royal headband,
for the Lord your God.
I am greatful to you, Mrs. Glick to keep suppying us with pertinent, clear, eloquent analysis of the facts,the disastrous and ridiculous reality we are facing. Some already suggested you should consider "throwing" yourself into politics..well I don't know about that, for you could waste your energy, integrity, time etc. trying to be relevant and survive in that vicious, dirty, hypocritical(under-)world called politics. On the other hand I would love to see you create a strong, well organized and effective "pressure group" made up of people of the press, academia, PR's, lawyers etc. with the same ideology, uncompromising and unswerving commitment to Zionism, land and country.
So What
Once again Caroline, you elegantly identify the problem. The 'So'.
But you skirt around the, 'What'.
Israel can only back fearfully into the bear's cave for so long. Then it will have to kill it.
"Not kill it, surely? Perhaps we can have a UN debate on the traditional rights of the bear?"
Nuke Tehran and many sites in Iran. Nuke Cairo and Gaza. Nuke Command and Control on places like Syria and Lebanon. In fact, obliterate Southern Lebanon...even the ground there is treacherous.
Then, invite genuine World Leaders to come to Jerusalem and discuss the new "Facts on the Ground".
Or wait. Bears are messy but, fortunately for some, quick.
Unfortunately Caroline I don't see any of those options viable. Coexist is not an option as you pointed out. Destroying Hamas is only a partial fix, if that were possible. There is now more to deal with besides Hamas. Alqaeda, Salafists etc. (excuse the spelling).
Within the negotiations, the US said that they would place Special OP's with Morsi's permission in Egypt to cover the southern border. It would have been very difficult to have done a ground op into Gaza and the occupy the south permanently, let alone all the loss of Jewish life. This would have been the only viable solution. They took out most of the enemies weapons, that is why Iran was resupplying. Gaza is surrounded on 3 sides. The south is the most important side now needing coverage to stop the smuggling of weapons from Sudan into Egypt and finally to Gaza through the Philadelphia Corridor tunnels. Egypt does not have the necessary technology to cover the area or find tunnels. And Israel cannot have a continual presence there even "if" they succeeded in a southern ground op. With Morsis permission, this opened the door for Israel to not only have a hold on the Sinai Peninsula border but allows the US OP's to target the Peninsula smugglers caches and radicals.
Certain events must take place for prophecy to be fulfilled.
There will be another holocaust.
But this time it will not be just the Jews.
America, Britain and Israel will all fall together.
After three and one half years the Messiah will intervene and appear to deliver Israel from captivity in a second great exodus.
http://youtu.be/XZR9w1naD-A
At some point...sooner, rather than later (as Bill Clinton, the draft dodger once proclaimed...note to Israeli citizens who expect all Israelis to serve in the military) Obama has to be "smoked out" as we used to say here in America.
Which side is he truly on...besides his own which is really the most important to him?
Until such a reality occurs, then if I were living in Israel, I would be armed up, suited up, have my home as security protected as possible, along with escape routes defined for my family.
For over 45 years now, I have been listening to all these so called "smart people" tell all who would listen how to create peace with those who seek to destroy Israel and it's citizens.
I'm getting ready for the really big war, the definitive war, the classical war, the war where there is a victor and a loser.
I want the United States and Israel to be the victors. Presently, we don't have a leader who loves the United States, nor Israel.
We're in trouble, as is democracy...note Egypt and it's new friends!
I know of no Israeli government since I can recall which acted without some kind of "coordination", i.e. appeasement, with it's allies. It has never done the right thing. Look at Jerusalem, it turned over the Temple Mount to The Waqf. Just that one move convinced the Arabs that The Jews were inherently weak, not to mention Israel's raison d'etre not being serious.They should have cleared the Mount and shipped the building to Mecca, postage due upon delivery. I was upset when Begin decided to withdraw from the final third of Sinai when it appeared clear that Egypt was not going to establish a warm peace at all. When Sharon evacuated the residents of Yamit, that was the same Sharon who forced the Gaza Withdrawal through by manipulating the rule of law. Arik was capable of being a heavyweight prick. He ate too much halvah too.
OK, the US has made a commitment to prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza. I will believe it when I see the proof. It is good that Gaza Weapons Stores has been pounded. Israel needs to act now while Hamas is licking it's wounds, and that is Iran's Nuclear Program.
So the focus has shifted back to Iran and it's nuclear program, not that it was forgotten by anyone. I wonder how long it would take Israel to neutralize Hizzbullah should Nazrallah order his missile teams into action.
They certainly did not stick their necks out to help Hamas. Could it be connected with hamas' flip flopping on support for Assad of Syria.
I would think we are nearing a showdown with Iran. The Distraction of Syria will serve as a most opportune time to do Iran.
Sorry, but the real problem with the ground invasion into Gaza is the threat of Egypt and Turkey going to war against Israel.
Israel has no resources to oppose, alone, the joint Egypt-Turkey aggression with conventional force, by any stretch of imagination. This much must be clear to anyone. Third parties might think up all kinds of contingencies for that.
The phenomenon of Sharon's betrayal remains as yet unexplained. (hint, hint)
@Elie: the USA/CIA has made a commitment to fight the weapons smuggling into Gaza in 2005 too, when they forced Israel's hand to withdraw from the last inch of South Gaza security corridor, under supposed personal assurances by Condoleeza. With known in advance results, then and now.
'the noose around Israel's neck'
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/12500#.ULS0M-RqSyg
Israel had a choice ,*Obey God or chase after a bright, powerful, gleaming idol and it's Road Map to Sheol for peace and security.
Israel made the wrong choice and continues to make the wrong choice because secular Jewish rule has proven a failure.
The idol worshipers have no where else to turn because they have forsaken life and the God of life FOR LIES.
They rejected the truth and chose lies and delusion which comes with a noose.
*Exodus 23:27-33
"You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."
Questions:
Why did Israel wait so long in responding to the rocket attacks? And why did Israel act now?
How can you possibly discount the cost in US public support towards Israel versus the benefit militarily of Israeli invading Gaza, when Israel is dependent on US military aid? What more could have been accomplished by invading? What would have been the point if Israel was not intending to retake Gaza at this time? Simply to satisfy animalistic instincts for revenge?
How can you ignore that the obvious provocation of the rocket attacks and a disproportionate Israeli response is a predictable propaganda tool to unify competing factions within the Arab world and anti Israel groups elsewhere? Would Morsi be fighting protesters within his own country if Israel had invaded? No way. Even the most moderate and liberal Egyptian would have accepted his power grab when united against Jews.
How long did it take for Israel to assemble its forces at the Gaza border? A day or two? Agreed the cease fire is a farce, but a ground invasion is always a possibility and Hamas knows it.