WarSclerotic

Israel is involved in a complex battle intended to ensure quiet on the southern border. Citizens are not supposed to live under a continual threat that becomes part of their daily routine, and the right to personal safety is a basic one in a democracy. The government, the army, and the rest of the security forces are working to guarantee us this right.

It’s important to remember that the enemy we face has sanctified death. In his eyes, life has no value. Questions of the cost in human life aren’t even a consideration. On television, we saw people in Gaza climbing onto their roofs despite the Israeli Air Force’s warning about what was going to happen to the buildings. The Gazans are part of a culture that is indifferent to human life and in which hundreds or thousands of people are gleefully murdered on a daily basis throughout the Middle East. Enlightened democracies have difficulty confronting a fanatical enemy that operates from a glaring irrationality when values and morality limit their use of force.

Thanks to Iron Dome, the number of casualties from rocket attacks has been astonishingly small (a few minor wounded and cases of shock) but there must be no mistake: Every rocket fired from Gaza is intended to kill civilians, indiscriminately and mercilessly. The few casualties cannot be a consideration in the response to brutal terrorism. The leaders should look at the potential casualties, not the actual number of wounded. Iron Dome has provided breathing room for security decision-making, but it must not be the reason to put off addressing the root of the problem.

The rocket fire of the past several days has created real national unity between central Israel and the periphery. Residents of the greater Tel Aviv area are learning what the Color Red siren means and understanding the lives of the men, women, and children who have heard the rise and fall of sirens for years. The entire nation of Israel is full of admiration for the stalwartness and determination of residents of the south, but the time has come to tell the enemies of the state “No more!” Hamas will understand what it means when the government of Israel decides to stop the constant, growing danger that has gathered on its southern border. Deterrence is needed not only against Hamas, but also against the country’s enemies farther way who are waiting to see how Israel responds when it is attacked.

Many here have criticized the restraint of the government since the three teens Gil-ad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel, and Eyal Yifrach were kidnapped and the rocket fire started up again. There is no doubt that this restraint has contributed to the massive response capability that is expanding with every day that passes. Israel cannot allow itself the privilege that the U.S. and Russia have in their war on terror. The U.S. can fire a missile at a wedding, killing dozens of innocent civilians, because one of the party is a Taliban member and Russia can wipe out Chechen villages without batting an eye without facing international condemnation. The world is silent when three Jewish teens are murdered but when an Arab teen is murdered by Jewish terrorists the response is dramatic. The world is silent when days after day dozens if not hundreds of civilians are killed in Syria and Iraq, but if an Israeli missile mistakenly hits innocent Palestinians — hysteria. This is our genetic fate.

War is waged and peace is made only when there is broad national support. The restraint demonstrated by the government thus far got it internal and external backing for the necessary steps against terror from Gaza — backing that will help it execute everything necessary, including a ground incursion, to bring Hamas to its knees.