Calls from the political opposition on the government to avoid escalating the situation with Hamas in the south could potentially create a wrong, not to mention harmful impression, as if Israel has an interest in continuing the shooting. There is nothing easier than to assume that the exchange of fire in Israel's south will bring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak more votes in the upcoming elections. Those who are motivated by malice are easily persuaded by this argument. The election campaign is being managed with sophistication, on the backs of Israel's residents in the communities near the Gaza Strip. No one dares tell the government to return to a policy of restraint, and no one is looking it straight in the eye and blaming it for initiating the latest round of hostilities; but there are voices calling on the government to refrain from escalating the situation and making it worse. The subconscious overtones are clear. It is less significant that these comments bring a few extra votes to some irrelevant opposition party, or perhaps even damage these parties, because attitudes like this antagonize ordinary people who vote with integrity. What is important is that the government isn't influenced by the calls of the opposition. Just as the option of unnecessary military escalation must be avoided at all costs, the government must be wary of avoiding military action simply to avoid the opposition's criticism. Furthermore, the government mustn't refrain from taking a risk, if necessary, because it is afraid that a military failure will spark an outcry followed by demands for commissions of inquiry and for heads to roll. There is no doubt that Hamas has control of Gaza. Evidence of this is that during the kind patron from Qatar's visit to Gaza this week, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was able to stop the rocket and mortar fire at Israel. It's possible that Haniyeh has renewed the shooting due to a sense of confidence that the Gaza blockade is weakening and that soon guests from Turkey and Egypt will also arrive. All of this comes amid tensions between Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Meanwhile, they have both decided to throw a rocket launching party at the expense of Israel's southern residents. Neither inner Palestinian political developments nor the suspicion that the government in Jerusalem is motivated by electoral considerations should influence the degree of Israel's response. We need to be careful of too strong a response? True, but no less than too weak a response. In retrospect, one could slam the government for the promise by Netanyahu, Barak and Homefront Defense Minister Avi Dichter that fortifications will be built for 1,700 homes in the surrounding Gaza area as part of the election campaign, even though such an accusation cannot be substantiated. However, even if one says that the elections played a role in the decision to fortify homes and communities, it is worth noting two basic facts: When it comes to protection whether it's a security barrier in Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem or along the Egyptian border Israel has always lagged behind. Past governments are responsible, as is this one, perhaps. Regardless, if something good comes out of this ugliness then it's worth it.
