Wednesday night was hectic. The old Middle East and the new Middle East looked on with open mouths as the negotiators convened in Cairo. Would there be a cease-fire or not? A white night. The Palestinian behavior was not coincidental. It was guided by an Iranian swindler. Hamas broke the cease-fire 100 minutes early, as a way of acting out. Hamas is seeking to chip away at Israel's mental fortitude, hoping to sow constant fear, bordering on panic. After the rocket fire, Hamas acted as if Israel owed it thanks for agreeing last-minute to a five-day cease-fire extension. Israel must change its approach to how it deals with Hamas' tricks. Israel can note that the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire extension and that this matter is now between the Palestinians, Egypt and the rest of the world. It was important to Israel that the cease-fire extension was declared, and nothing more. Israel, for its part, must announce that it is throwing the stopwatch into the Mediterranean Sea. In Israel's eyes, the cease-fire should have no time limit. This is Israel's commitment, compared to the Palestinian commitment to only a five-day cease-fire. What will be, will be, but Israel must respond to any fire from Gaza, regardless of the clock or calendar. That is to say that, next time, whenever the Arab-declared cease-fire ends, Israel will not allow the events of Wednesday night to reoccur. Regardless of whether fire from Gaza takes place during or after a cease-fire, Israel's response must be the same -- massive fire against any fire. It is also clear that the Israeli delegation must change its position at the negotiating table. Right now, an internal Arab diplomatic chess game is being played there, and Israel must be a noisy spectator, rather than an active player. Every time a rocket or mortar shell is fired at it, Israel must stand up and respond immediately, at any place and any time, within the framework of any temporary cease-fire arrangement. At midnight Wednesday, the Palestinians allotted five more days of calm. There is no need for Israel to shoot during this time, but there are other actions it should take: first, flood Gaza with appeals to local residents, which will restrain Hamas. And second, hold talks with the civilized nations of the world in an effort to renew at least some of the understandings that existed before Operation Protective Edge. This is a difficult, but not hopeless, task. Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi) warned Wednesday night against losing battlefield achievements at the negotiating table. While Israeli flexibility is necessary, the delegation in Cairo needs to stick to certain red lines that were set at the start of the negotiations. At this time, diplomatic attrition is no less dangerous than battlefield attrition.
