The Associated Press reports that "Israeli tanks and troops launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip Saturday night with officials saying they expected a lengthy fight with Hamas militants in the densely populated territory after eight days of punishing airstrikes failed to halt rocket attacks on Israel. Hamas vowed that Gaza would be a 'graveyard' for Israelis forces." California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that "every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism and cold-blooded attacks on its people. Israel is no different and is right to defend itself against the unceasing violence of rocket attacks launched by Hamas." Czech European Union presidency spokesman Jiri Potuznik said that "at the moment, from the perspective of the last days, we understand this step as a defensive, not offensive, action." The EU President, however, does not represent all of Europe. The French Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that "France condemns the Israeli ground offensive against Gaza as it condemns the continuation of rocket firing" and termed the Israeli action a "dangerous military escalation."It is important to point out to the French and to all those who may condemn the Jewish State that Israel has the military capability to take care of Gaza without a single boot on the ground. The Israeli Air Force is one of the very best air forces in the world. Over the last week the world has witnessed the precision in which Israel is able to target its enemy. Israel could continue to bombard Gaza with bombs from the air if it so wished. If Israel was not worried about civilian collateral damage in the assault on Gaza it could continue an aerial attack and cause much more damage. When it comes to Israel, this is not the case. Israel has decided that it is worth risking the lives of Israeli soldiers by launching a ground offensive. This risks IDF lives in a way that an offensive from the air does not. It is a testament to the fact that Israel has always taken civilian casualties into consideration. It is imperative that you not be fooled by the media offensive against Israel. The media will attempt to portray a ground offensive as an escalation on the part of Israel. This is certainly not the case. It is Israel showing that they will not rely solely on their air force, as they no doubt could, but that they are willing to sacrifice Israeli soldiers in the battle against Hamas. I pray that the Israeli soldiers and tanks moving into Gaza are successful in their mission against a fanatical jihadist enemy.
The Associated Press further reports that "the U.N. Security Council scheduled emergency consultations Saturday night on the escalation of violence in Gaza." Israel should brush the United Nations aside as one brushes aside dandruff on the shoulder of a dark suit. When it comes to Israel the United Nations is more than irrelevant. They are a nothing more than a mouthpiece for the enemies of Israel. They are a propaganda headquarter for the Palestinians and the Arab States, all the while having the aura of international legitimacy.
The AP reports also that Hamas has "threatened to resume suicide attacks inside Israel" as if Israel needed another reminder of the jihadist evil which it faces, an evil force that is willing to conduct suicide terrorism targetihg innocent civilians.
And here is Bob Dylan to provide some perspective:
Former IDF Brig.-Gen. and Knesset Member Effie Eitam explained Wednesday to Arutz Sheva that a cease-fire with Hamas should not be an option saying that “we must understand that this war against the Hamas terrorist regime has ramifications well beyond the immediate outcome. The entire Arab and terrorist worlds, especially Iran and the like, are watching Israel to see how it deals, yet again, with terror threats and rockets fired into its territory." Eitam further warned against repeating the mistakes made in the battle against Hezbollah two and a half years ago stating that Israel's "failure last time in Lebanon is that which created the present situation… Everything taking place now in Gaza is a direct imitation of what happened in Lebanon: the way they prepared themselves on the ground, firing rockets at our cities, etc. In Lebanon, we had a few excuses, in that our army wasn’t perfectly ready, and Hizbullah had a home front behind them constantly re-supplying them and helping them – but here in Gaza this is not true: Our army is ready, there is no home front behind them, and we will have no excuse for not dealing them a total defeat. If we do not now effect the total defeat of a terrorist organization to the point where they get down on their knees and beg for mercy, we will face a deterrence-loss crisis much greater than that which occurred following the Second Lebanon War.”