Cease-fire needs 'braking distance'

The current round of violence in southern Israel seemed to be nearing its end Sunday, despite the continuous rocket fire by Palestinian terrorists and the Israeli counter-strikes, as both parties have been promoting the same message: no to further escalation and yes to a cease-fire.

That sentiment was expressed in the indirect, Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas. The latter has made it unequivocally clear that it has no interest in further escalation at this time, and while the past few days have seen Hamas' military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, violate this directive, they too were toeing the line by Sunday.

Hamas was not party to Sunday's rocket fire on Israel, and its government in Gaza Strip has pledged to curtail the rogue terror groups responsible for the attacks.

Israel's intentions have also been rather clear. While the message relayed to Hamas was firm, clearly stating that continuous rocket fire from the Gaza Strip would see Israel intensify its strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements on "responsible practices" and how the IDF was carefully choosing its targets so to avoid any harm to Gaza's residents (meaning Hamas operatives), were enough for anyone to understand that Israel seeks to stop this situation from escalating further.

The next few days will determine whether or not this will happen. As in previous cases, there is a "braking distance" until the rocket fire comes to a complete stop, during which we can expect sporadic rocket attacks. As of Sunday, the majority of projectiles landed in open areas, but those statistics could, heaven forbid, change at any moment, pushing Israel into the kind of response it seeks to avoid.

This scenario is what Egypt is trying to prevent in its attempts to urge both sides back into their proverbial corners -- to the security situation that preceded the abduction of Israeli teens Gil-ad Shaer, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Frenkel -- where the Palestinians hold their fire and Israel does not strike Gaza Strip. Hamas' request to open the Rafah crossing and have the Palestinian Authority transfer the funds Hamas needs to pay its workers' wages has been denied.

The IDF's concerns over the situation in Gaza Strip have once again taken a back seat to concerns over the situation in Judea and Samaria. The progress made in the murder case of 16-year-old east Jerusalem resident Muhammad Hussein Abu Khdeir has sparked concerns that Palestinians in the West Bank might join the riots sweeping through Arab towns in Israel.

The GOC Central Command said Sunday that the situation is under control, but a senior IDF officer warned that "with so many gasoline fumes in the air, it would not take much for things to blow up."

In its attempts to keep things under control, the IDF has bolstered its civilian and security collaboration with the Palestinian security forces. In informal talks, Israel has pledged to take a firm hand against the Khdeir's killers, and some in the defense establishment have even advocated razing their homes -- should they be convicted and the move proved legally feasible.

Should such a move take place, it is believed that it would help pacify both Israeli Arab and the Palestinians in the West Bank, as it will make it clear to all that Israel is willing to take unprecedented action against any homegrown terrorists.

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