Shaul Amir

August 14, 2014

Stayed up until after 12:00 am last night to see if the ceasefire will be extended. I hate to say it but the terrorists had their way with me and the whole of Israel, we all waited to see what they will do. I was sure that the fire would resume. The Hamas can only gain. I assume that the fact that we had so many forces ready to go in, had its effect. They did not start, apart from a few rockets which were retaliated against forcefully by our air force.

We are now at the beginning of a new five days, ceasefire. The question which path will it take?

One option: ceasefire breaks after five days, this time Israel does not hold back and goes in, full force, until Hamas is totally broken militarily, its leadership eliminated, regardless of the death toll on both sides.

The other path, takes us to the diplomatic solution. Opening of the Rafa passage with Palestinian Authority control supervised by international presence and Israeli remote supervision, widening of the fishing zone from three to six miles, a beginning of rehabilitation of Gaza with tight control over the materials going in and how they are used.

All of the above mentioned arrangements are pretty much acceptable to Israel. Suffice it to say that one Mortar bomb or missile fired at Israel, will be considered as a breach of the agreement and answered appropriately. These are the basics, other items on the table will be release of prisoners arrested by Israel after the kidnaping and murder of our three boys.

Israel will only agree to a minor release of uninvolved (if there is such a thing) Hamas Parliament members in the West Bank arrested during June. In return we will demand the return of the IDF bodies, or what is left of them, to their parents.

Other long term agreements have to do with demilitarization of Gaza on the one hand and a seaport for the Palestinians, also closely monitored by Israel and other forces. Maybe if they have a lot to lose they will think twice before starting anything.

I know that many say that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority (Abu Mazen) can be trusted. I know which alternative I choose, what about you???

Last but not least, what on earth happened to President Obama, whose Administration decided to stop supply of Hellfire missiles to Israel? If he wanted to reduce casualties of civilians this is not the way. Hellfire is a precision missile designated for a pin point accuracy. Go figure!!!!