Gaza, Durban

Today a rocket fired from Gaza hit a synagogue in Netivot.  No one was injured and the building was only slightly damaged.  Israel struck back at the notorious 'tunnels.'  

Again, the only question I pose is this:  what course of action will secure Israel's future?  Or, at the very least, contribute to securing Israel's future?  

I've previously referred to a book called 'Terror and Consent,' by Philip Bobbitt.  Bobbitt makes clear that our adversaries (Hamas, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, etc.) simply do not respond in the same manner as previous adversaries (Germany, Japan, etc.).   Israel can bomb Hamas in the 'tit-for-tat' kind of method they've used over the years...but Hamas has no compunction about sending every single man, woman and child to their death.  This makes it very difficult to 'win' a war in sense familiar to the Western World.  

By the way, I urge you to check out the writings of Rabbi Donnel Hartman, co-director of the Shalom Hartman Institute.  One voice, yes, but an important voice.

Meanwhile, Italy is the first EU country to pull out of Durban II.  This is very good news and we can only hope that every other civilized country will follow the lead of Italy, Canada and the United States.  Durban II will be an antisemitic debacle.

Gaza

An Israeli missile killed Khaled Shalan, a leader of Hamas responsible for a number of the rocket attacks on Ashkelon.  What's important to keep in mind, however, is that the 'truce' is a farce and that Hamas continues to pummel southern Israel with relative impunity.  Maybe this assassination (which is what it was) will make some difference...maybe not.  You have to wonder how long this 'status quo' can continue.  The only question, in my mind, is:  what is the most effective mechanism to stop the bombs in the first instance and topple Hamas in the second instance.

Meanwhile, Israel is allowing limited goods to pass through Gaza crossings in a gesture to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the United States.  I think this is wise--certainly good PR, but here, too, it will have no real impact on the actual situation in Gaza.