© AFP Photo/Jack GuezAn Israeli F-15 fighterjet
The official stated purpose of the operation, which was called "pillar of Cloud," is to stop the shelling of Israeli territory by Palestinian rockets unmanaged missiles. The main purpose of the operation was the destruction of important objects of military infrastructure of Hamas and its political, military and religious leaders. Only recently was eliminated a few people headed the radical Hamas in particular directions, the leader of the extremist wing of the "Brigades of martyr Izzeddina al-Qassam".
Israel also did not rule out a ground invasion of Gaza (if necessary), and the Government has begun the recruitment of reservists. In addition, the military command began to pull to the borders of Gaza, troops and armored vehicles that would be further evidence of the seriousness of the intentions of the Israelis. The Israeli leadership there are also political reasons for launching a military operation.
First, the succeeding in January 2013 and worked in the Knesset - Parliamentary elections the State Israel. War could bring serious political dividends to all three major Israeli parties, inter alia, to add votes to Netanyahu and Lieberman.
Secondly, on November 29, 2012, at the request of the Palestinian National Authority's vote at the UN about becoming an observer State in the General Assembly. It would allow Palestinians to bring an action against the State of Israel in international courts.
The third objective reason is the preparation by the Government of Israel fighting against Iran. To attack targets in Iran and avoid possible response from both sides, from Iran and from Hamas, the Israeli Government provoked Hamas to attack now that has spent their entire military potential that cannot be quickly restored.
On air, sea and land were more than 100 targets in the Gaza Strip: arms depots, rocket launchers, police stations and homes of the Hamas leadership. The raids involved fighter-bomber aircraft of the Israeli air force F-16 "Falcon".
The Israeli army also strikes against targets information infrastructure on the territory of the Gaza Strip. 18 November was attacked by the building, which houses offices of the media. In particular, is a television station "Al-Quds", which is considered close to Khamas. In addition, there are the Palestinian television channel RAI, the Italian Edition of the German broadcasting company ARD TV channel Kuwait City-TV, as well as the Office of the Russian TV company "Russia Today". Blow was dealt to stop broadcasting on the territory of the Gaza Strip, sources of information other than Israeli opinion.
In turn, combat groups Hamas and other Palestinian factions continued their shelling of Israeli territory. Missile strikes the towns of Ashdod, Ashkelon, Sderot, Be'er Sheva and other locations. For the first time, Palestinian rockets were intercepted on approach to Tel Aviv and to nuclear Center in Dimona.
The reaction of the world community on all these developments largely appeared to be rather restrained. American and British leadership took the position of being Pro-Israeli, European countries are neutral, and the Arab States to support the Palestinians. United States President Barack Obama stated that Israel has a right to defend itself against rocket attacks by Palestinian militants, but is more advantageous to both parties solve the case, not carrying to land Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip.
In Cairo today, conducted informal talks on a truce between the parties. Palestinians demand not only the cessation of Israeli incursions into Gaza, refusing to point the liquidations of the faction leaders, but also the complete lifting of the blockade of the coastal enclave. Israel, according to Palestinian MA'AN agency originally sought a truce for more than 15 years, stop the flow of weapons to Gaza, rocket fire and attacks on troops on the border, the right to prosecute militants if there is information about an impending attack.
During the negotiations the Israelis, whose representative, according to media reports, is in Cairo, secretly removed the requirement to disarm Hamas, complete cessation of bombardment and the international interests of the potential agreements. According to experts, in case of failure of the negotiations process and the rejection of proposed conditions Israel threatens to launch within a few days of full-scale ground, sea and air operation in the Gaza Strip and to continue it until the overthrow of Hamas regime.
Thus, during a military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel intends to cause substantial damage to elements of the military infrastructure of the organization, its military and political and spiritual leadership, and significantly weaken the potential of information and psychological impact on the Arab world as a whole.
A possible goal of the operation is the intention of the Israeli leaders to eliminate the threat of attack on its territory from the rear, by radical Palestinian groups the Gaza Strip, for a period of three to six months for reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure of Hamas. During this time, Israel may be planning to strike at Iran. Now Tel Aviv holds a short-term air-strike operations, in future, to protect themselves from combat operations in two directions simultaneously.
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