Comment and Opinion
Haaretz: Israel’s Pillar of Defense achieved its goals, by Aluf Benn
“Operation Pillar of Defense had two strategic goals – one, to reinstate the Gaza cease-fire with Hamas, which had unraveled in recent months amid increasing hostilities, and two, to stabilize the peace with Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood came to power.
Providing both sides now keep the truce, it seems from the agreements announced on Wednesday night that both these goals may have been achieved.
Israel expects Hamas to fulfill a role in Gaza analogous to Hezbollah’s in Lebanon – protecting the border, stopping the firing and enforcing quiet on other armed organizations.
This agreement is not based on love, mutual recognition or joint ideology, but on joint interests backed by a balance of fear – the IDF’s air firepower and threat of a ground invasion, versus the ability of Hezbollah and Hamas to launch rockets at Israel’s home front.”