Israel declares an 'all out war' against Hamas

December 29, 10:44 PMForeign Policy ExaminerAimee Kligman

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BBC: 320 Palestinians dead since Saturday

George Bush is on vacation. Gaza is in flames and George Bush is on vacation.

That very fact may give us a little more insight as to the reasons for the timing of the attack.

As of this writing, more than 350 people have died and a thousand+ wounded. Israel is poised to a "limited" ground attack, as they have themselves indicated. Why now?

Aside from the fact that Israeli elections are around the corner (February) and Kadima needs to show some muscle to counter Bibi Netanyahu, Israelis know that they have "unconditional love" from George W. Bush and his administration. There is no such guarantee once Barack Obama takes office, though there is no rhetoric to the contrary.

At the moment, the president elect can say or do very little, since he is just that, a president elect. His spokespeople have indicated that he is keeping an eye on the situation and getting updates from Condoleeza Rice who, just days before the assault, was singing the praises of the Bush admin and how much better the situation had been in the Middle East and that the peace process was moving along. She didn't even blink.

If there was to be a moment to attack, this would have to have been it. And the only thing I can see is a continued and more vigorous cycle of violence. Does anyone learn from history? Apparently not. Revisit the Lebanon war of 2006.

Well, Israel must have calculated that they can achieve what they have in mind by January 19th. In the meantime, the world cannot stand by and watch this latest incursion into Gaza.