Gaza fighting sparks revolt against Olmert plan

The ongoing Arab aggression and IDF counter-terrorist operations in and around Gaza have sparked a revolt of sorts within Israel’s Kadima Party against the unilateral withdrawal policies of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Israel unilaterally vacated Gaza just 10 months ago, amid government promises that the move would result in increased security and stability for the nation.

But since then terrorism has been on the rise and the ability of Gaza-based terrorists to strike distant parts of sovereign Israel with long-range weapons has increased exponentially.

Some senior members of Kadima, which featured a pullout from Judea and Samaria as a central plank in its election platform, are starting to wake up from the fantasy.

“Considering what is happening in Gaza, opposition to the realignment is growing. …I don’t believe unilateral steps should be made,” said Housing Minister Meir Sheetrit in an interview with the Knesset Channel.

Sheetrit was backed in that regard by Kadima ministers Gideon Ezra and Ze’ev Boim.

Then there were those like Justice Minister Haim Ramon, who continued to support Olmert in his determination to implement another withdrawal despite present circumstances.

“The realignment and the disengagement [Gaza pullout] were borne out of the understanding that Israel has no partner on the other side. The events of the past few days just prove this. Since Israel can’t be held hostage by Hamas and Kassam rockets, it must act according to its interests.”

Many are wondering if it is in Israel’s interest to give the terrorists the kind of space that has allowed Gaza’s “Palestinians” to launch unprecedented numbers of rockets and plan and execute sophisticated operations like last month’s abduction of IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit.

But Olmert and his circle continue to delude themselves into thinking the Gaza withdrawal actually improved the security situation, and therefore sets a positve precedent for a further surrender of “West Bank” lands.

“Today it is clear to all of us, especially in light of the recent developments in Gaza, that it is much easier for us to deal with the Kassams when we are out of Gaza. With all due respect, there were more Kassam-related deaths before the disengagement. Therefore, these developments only strengthen the notion of realignment,” one source close to the prime minister told Ynet.

Interestingly, this official fails to mention that far more rockets are being fired from Gaza per month since the withdrawal than before. Of course, the fact they have caused so few casualties has nothing whatsoever to do with the withdrawal, and is nothing short of miraculous.

Olmert’s lackey goes on to assert that the recent upgrading of Kassams by Gaza terrorists and the increasing use of more advanced projectiles - like the GRAD Katyusha missiles smuggled in after the IDF’s departure - are natural evolutions of the conflict that would have occured whether or not Israel had pulled out.

“Look at the kassam that was fired from [the Samarian town of] Tulkarm [Sunday]; we are there with the entire army and they still manufacture Kassams; it’s an evolution of this war, and it has nothing to do with whether we are there or not.”

His glaring omission of the fact that, while a single rocket was fired from Samaria, more than 1,000 have been launched from Gaza since January alone was not lost on many.

Israel’s firm presence in Judea and Samaria has without question prevented the millions living in Israel’s populous central regions from having to endure the kind of artillery bombardments the residents of the Western Negev have sadly become accustomed to.

Fortunately, it appears enough of Israel’s politicians are reaching clarity on this issue as to prevent Olmert’s plans from every becoming reality.

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