Israel used to have four so-called “confrontation states”, with whom it had intermittent clashes, from fire-fights to full-scale wars. With Egypt and Jordan at peace with it, only Syria and Lebanon are left of the original quartet, but a fifth, or currently third, has emerged: (namely) Gaza. Under Hamas rule for the last 16 years and with no Israeli military presence within its boundaries, Gaza is a constant threat to Israel, even when Hamas refrains from launching rockets from it and prefers to direct and incite terror from the West Bank and Lebanon. With the Netanyahu government unable to foil these attacks on Israelis, it is warning Hamas leaders on Gaza and elsewhere that they will be targeted for assassination. Should that happen, following a particularly grave terror act, escalation seems certain to ensue. Is that a forgone conclusion, what can be done about it and what would the parties gain and lose by a new round?
Joining us to analyze it from central Israel are Col. (Ret.) Dr. Eran Lerman, Co-host TV7 Middle East Review, Powers-in-Play Panelist, JISS VP and Editor in Chief of the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, Brigadier General (Res.) Doron Gavish, Former Air Defense Chief, Israel Air Force. Also join us in the studio TV7 At Large Amir Oren.
