Senior Israeli military officials stated on Wednesday that they believe that the Gaza Strip will witness a new war in the coming two months. The officials said that this war could happen although Hamas, in control of Gaza, is not interested at all in ending the truce.
The officials stated that the Palestinians consider December 19 as the last day of truce as the six-month truce deal was achieved through indirect talks mediated by Egypt between Israel and Hamas nearly six months ago, also the term of President Mahmoud Abbas in office officially ends on January 9 of 2009.
Hamas officially stated that on January 9, Abbas will officially become an “illegitimate president”.
Israeli military sources stated that even if Hamas is not interested in a new confrontation with Israel, “there are other factions in Gaza, such as the Islamic Jihad and other group close to Al Qaida, that will be interested in a new confrontation”, according to the Israeli sources.
Based on this belief, the Israeli military officials are convinced that Israel should be prepared for any possible war with Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, said that Hamas leaders should understand that any strike against Israel will result “in dozens of painful strikes against Gaza”.
The Israeli army already prepared a plan for a possible attack against Gaza, the plan was prepared several months ago and includes several scenarios.
One of the scenarios put forth is a full invasion to the Gaza Strip and imposing full Israeli military control over it. This plan would also be accompanied by a series of assassinations that would target military and “extreme” political leaders of Hamas. The pan would also include reimposing the Israeli military control over the “Philadelphia Route” along the Gaza Egypt borders.
Yet, Barak said that Israel is interested in the continuation of the truce and rejected demands from the Israeli right wing to reoccupy Gaza in order to free the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
He also said that military officials will have a free hand to decide any military measures they deems essential.
Israeli political analysts said that any successful military offensive against the Gaza Strip will help Barak in the upcoming Israeli elections, as Barak and his Labour party are losing public support.
The analysts also said that the Israeli public would forget all of the “medals of courage decorating Barak's chest” and will chose Benjamin Netanyahu.
They added that Barak wants to remind the Israelis that he “is number one among Israeli political and military leaders in the country”.
Note: Together with the upcoming Israel elections, this becomes explosive in a double sense.
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