Israel sends ground troops into Gaza

January 3, 5:38 PMProgressive Politics ExaminerJay McDonough

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I guess this means the big air offensive didn't work.  While it's by no means a surprise - Israel had been amassing ground troops along the Gaza border for days and yesterday dropped leaflets into Gaza encouraging foreigners to leave - Israel crossed the border into Gaza today and initiated a ground war there.

“This will not be short. this will not be easy. I do not wish to delude anyone,” Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, said in a televised statement, adding that the coming days will be difficult for the residents of southern Israel.

While a ground campaign in densely populated Gaza is likely to increase the civilian death toll there, the Israeli Army also faces new threats. Hamas has had 18 months since Israel withdrew from the territory to smuggle in more lethal weapons against tanks and troops. Its more sophisticated arsenal has been on display over the last weeks, as it has launched scores of longer range rockets from Gaza into Israeli cities. (Link)

And while knocking out Hamas rocket capabilities had been the initial Israeli rationalization for their air bombardment, Israeli Vice President Haim Ramon finally said what most analysts had guessed - Israel's real objective is to destroy Hamas.

“What I think we need to do is to reach a situation in which we do not allow Hamas to govern,” Mr. Ramon said on Channel One. “That is the most important thing.”

Israel has now managed to box themselves into a corner.  Any cessation of the assault on Gaza will strengthen Hamas and any escalation will draw Israel into what's likely to be a protracted guerilla war within the densely populated Gaza.