CBN's Middle East Bureau Chief, Chris Mitchell, turned in two fine reports today from the Gaza border (watch here and here) giving the latest on Israel's defensive action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. I call it a defensive action because for more than three years, ever since it pulled out of Gaza, Israel restrained itself while rockets rained down upon its cities in the south. When Hamas called off a truce with the Israelis 11 days ago and promptly began bombarding civilian targets in southern Israel with rockets (80 of them on Christmas Day alone), Israel was finally left with no choice but to retaliate. Imagine if some terrorist militia rained down rockets daily from Canada onto cities in northern Michigan? Or from Mexico into Texas and California, killing U.S. civilians--women, children and the elderly--destroying property and causing untold psychological damage? America's response in protecting its citizens would no doubt be swift and severe, and rightfully so. Now put yourself in Israel's shoes. How much can one country take before it says "enough?"
Along with some 600 other journalists, I participated in a conference call today with Mark Regev, Spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Ohlmert. Here are some highlights from the call, which was sponsored by an international non-proft organization called The Israel Project:
1. Regev made clear that this is not a conflict Israel sought. The Israeli government's view was that quiet from Gaza would be answered with quiet from Israel. Regev said that when Hamas pulled out of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire and began indiscriminately bombarding southern Israel with rockets, Israel was forced to act to defend its citizens. 250,000 people in southern Israel live within rocket range of Hamas, including 100,000 children.
2. Israel's ultimate goal with the current Gaza operation is to create a new security environment where its civilians are no longer under constant threat of Hamas rockets and can walk the streets without fear.
3. Regev said that so far, Israel's pinpoint strikes against Hamas installations have been extremely effective and have caught the terror group by surprise--while keeping civilian casualties at a minimum. He cautioned, however, that the Hamas military machine is down but not out, and that things "will get worse before they get better" as military action continues.
4. Responding to international criticism, Regev said Israel's Gaza action is the kind of "legitimate, legal action of self defense" which is recognized under international law.
5. Israel is being "as surgical as possible" with its strikes. Regev stressed repeatedly that the people of Gaza are not the enemy--Hamas is the enemy.
6. Arab regimes, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are annoyed that Hamas provoked that latest conflict. Regev pointed out that while Arab nations usually close ranks in times of war with Israel, that has not been the case this time around. I'd note that the situation on the Arab street may be quite different, however. Regev added that the only regimes that currently support Hamas are Iran and Syria.
7. Speaking of the Syrians, Regev--like other Israeli officials I've spoken with--seemed keen on flipping Syria away from Iran and into some kind of peace deal. He said there was "no reason" Syria and Israel couldn't strike a deal, given Israel's treaties with neighboring Jordan and Egypt. His talk of "painful steps' Israel would have to take as part of such an agreement (e..g. giving up the Golan Heights) was troubling to me, however.
8. Regev praised the performance of Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and stressed that the peace process with the Palestinians would move forward.
Whether such a process can include a Gaza Strip that--for the moment--is still ruled by Hamas remains to be seen.