Those Who Do Not Learn From History...Are Probably Members Of Kadima

May 29, 2000

Israel's humiliating flight from Lebanon

by Jeff Jacoby

There is no putting a pretty face on Israel's humiliating rout in southern Lebanon last week, but that didn't stop Prime Minister Ehud Barak from trying.

"Israel's presence in Lebanon tied its hands to some extent," he declared on Thursday. "But from now on, there are no limits on a tough Israeli response to all aggression against it." The day before, he boasted that the troops had departed Lebanon "without a scratch." This, he said, "is a happy day." [emphasis added]

November 6, 2007

Vice-Premier Chaim Ramon (Kadima) told those attending the Sderot Conference Tuesday that the 2005 unilateral withdrawal from Gaza is a good thing because it allows Israel to carry out sanctions policies against Gaza.

Ramon gave the example of cutting off electricity to Gaza in response to rockets as something that could not have been done if the withdrawal had not taken place.

However, there are 2 problems with that.

1. The next paragraph of the article:

Israel has yet to actually cut electricity, though the Cabinet has made such threats repeatedly over the two years since the withdrawal, during which time western Negev communities have suffered thousands of rockets from Gaza.

2. Ehud Barak, the perpetual proponent of limitless, tough, Israeli sanctions to all aggression--has changed his mind:

Defense Minister Ehud Barak says that Israel has no plans to invade Gaza in the near future.

The Associated Press has Barak giving as his reason the coming Annapolis Conference.

"What happens in Gaza brings us closer to a broader operation every day," Barak said before a Knesset committee. "But we should get to that point only after we consider and examine and exhaust all the other types of operational possibilities." MK Limor Livnat (Likud) said Barak indicated in his testimony that he did not want to derail the Annapolis talks.

So much for that idea.

But at least Barak is consistent:

According to Yediot Acharonot, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has called off an IDF operation that was to take place in the Balata neighborhood of Shechem. The operation was reportedly called off in order to avoid tensions with the Palestinian Authority before the Annapolis conference in late November.

IDF sources said soldiers continue to operate in the area, and have recently arrested several terrorists and stopped some “ticking bombs” who were planning attacks in the near future. The cancelled operation was to include a large number of forces, and was meant to destroy as much as possible of the neighborhood’s terrorist infrastructure.

I thought maybe Israel was beginning to show some signs of backbone. Apparently that is limited to the lawyers and the politicians.

When will Israel ever learn?

Technorati Tag: Israel and Annapolis.