Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 01/1 1 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 20. Dezember 2010 – 02. Januar 2011 1. Erneute Eskalation zwei Jahre nach Gaza-Krieg? Zwei Jahre nach dem Krieg im Gazastreifen kam es am Weihnachtswochenende 2010 zu einer neuen Eskalation in dem Gebiet. Nachdem eine Qassam­Rakete und Granaten auf israelisches Gebiet abgefeuert worden waren, bombadierte die israelische Luftwaffe Ziele im Gazastreifen. Auch in der folgenden Woche kam es zu vereinzelten Schmarmützeln. Dabei wurde ein Palästinenser getötet und mehrere verletzt. Quellen in der israelischen Armee zufolge teste die in Gaza herrschende Hamas aus, wie weit sie gehen kann, indem sie bewaffneten Gruppierungen wie dem Islamischen Jihad Angriffe auf Israel erlaube. Die Hamas selbst rüste sich kontinuierlich weiter mit neuen Waffen aus. Ein Sprecher der Hamas, Abu Obeida, gab an, dass die Hamas hoffe, den inoffiziellen Waffenstillstand mit Israel fortzusetzen. In Israel wurde indes kritisiert, dass die Bevölkerung in den an den Gaza-Streifen angrenzenden Gebieten weiterhin nicht ausreichend vor Raketenangriffen geschützt ist. So gibt es immer noch viele Kindergärten und Schulen in Gebäuden, die nicht ausreichend verstärkt worden sind, um einem Qassam-Einschlag standhalten zu können. Israeli message to Hamas "Officials in Israel view the recent escalation on the Gaza border as unusually severe. For the first time in a long while, Hamas is playing an active role in firing rockets and mortar shells at southern communities.[…] It appears the group changed its conduct for various reasons: The long period of time(two years) that has elapsed since Operation Cast Lead. Israeli officials estimate that its deterrent effect had been e roded as result. Hamas’ buildup through the acquisition of long-range rockets and anti-tank missiles,[which][…] boosts the organization’s self ­confidence.[…] Pressure exerted by radical groups […] to operate against Israel, and their claims that Hamas abandoned the struggle.[…] Although the attacks are still not approaching the level that prevailed before Operation Cast Lead, we are seeing a clear quantitative change." Ron Ben-Yishai, JED 22.12.10 Stop the escalation "The firing of Qassam rockets and mortars at the communities in the south and the air force bombings of the Gaza Strip are troubling. Two years after Operation Cast Lead the conclusion is that military solutions are able to provide only a temporary reply to a threat whose solution is political.[…] The military solution turned into a double-edged sword which, along with the calm it brought, fatally undermined Israel's international standing.[…] The calm that was achieved during the past two years had been offered to Israel long before Operation Cast Lead. Hamas proposed a tahadiyeh (lull) in the fighting.[…] Hamas is not a partner for political negotiations, but when the interest of both sides requires that calm is preserved[…], it is possible and necessary to stop the deterioration and take action toward such a long-term cease-fire." HAA 29.12.10 Editorial Learning the Gaza lesson "For the time being, there is no answer to the Qassam rockets. It also doesn’t seem like we’ll have an answer anytime soon. Meanwhile, the Iron Dome anti-missile venture is slowly emerging as an expensive screw-up. It is unable to intercept primitive mortar shells.[...] When IDF forces were deployed on the outskirts of Gaza City and Rafah, 1