Sixty-one Palestinians (about half civilians) and two Israeli solders have died since Israel launched a commando raid into Gaza. The raid was launched, of course, because Hamas has begun firing missiles on the previously out-of-range city of Ashkhelon. Israel is nearly stuck. It can't let missiles continue to hit one of its cities. Yet it's unlikely to be able to stop them. As even Israel's leaders recognize, re-occupying Gaza would probably hurt Israel more than it would help.
All which of reminds me of something I mentioned two years ago, when I first read a brief reference about the possibility of a ballistic intifada:
It is precisely because technology, such as missiles, is becoming cheaper and more accessible that political solutions are what's needed. In other words, if it's becoming ever-easier for movements and people to get the means to kill, then one of the best things you can do is try to remove their desire to kill.
Israel needs to do what it can to protect its citizens. But over the long run, the best chance of that happening involves Israel's leaders holding their noses and negotiating with Hamas.
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