What will Israel do now that hundreds of rockets have caused damage and death to the people of Sderot and other communities? The taking out of a key Hamas leader is good, but not good enough. During Operation Cast Lead the underlining objective was not to defeat and completely destroy Israel’s enemies, which is why Israel is having trouble today with Hamas rockets killing civilians and destroying homes. The first error is the notion that is often said in Israeli circles: “We don’t want to rule over another people”. This position is completely unsound and a paradigm shift is needed. Ruling over a people or ethnic group is not instinctively evil. Most countries of the world rule over their ethnic, racial or religious minorities with very little opposition and in peace.

The second erroneous belief is the concept of neutralizing the enemy. Many in Israel do not believe in destroying their enemies who seeks to destroy her. Hampering their capabilities to launch rockets is not enough. Destroying roads, buildings, lines of communications and military apparatus does not in itself win a battle. In order to win a war against terrorism on the home front you cannot neutralize the enemy you must eradicate the enemy. When an enemy seeks your life and that of your family and country you do not neutralize the enemy, you destroy them completely so they will never again re-group and try to kill you. Since Israel has failed to completely destroy her enemies in Operation Cast Lead we are now faced with another war and an invasion of Gaza. This barrage of rockets could have been avoided if Israel completely destroyed her enemies from the very beginning.

Third, you recover what you lost by inhabiting the land.  The government of Israel made a grave mistake in 2005 by pulling out of Gaza and that has made Hamas and Israel’s enemies are more brazen in the belief that all of the land from the river to the sea is theirs.

Lastly, after Israel takes control of the land she must annex it. Here is where the problem lies; Israel is not willing to take back that which she lost simply because it would create turbulence at home and abroad- (international community). If Israel wants to live in peace without fear of missile attacks, coming into towns and killing innocent civilians, Israel must deal ruthlessly with her enemies, with the stated goal of complete victory over her dead enemies.

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." Deuteronomy 20:4

Abraham Santiago (c)