The meaning of the enhanced Hamas capabilities in launching rockets is clear. Within two years or less, Hamas will be able to close down Ben-Gurion Airport, ’s only large international airport. A number of rockets even within proximity of the airport will lead to a cessation of all flights by foreign carriers. Reduced air traffic will have a major effect on the Israeli economy, as well as pose a strategic danger to the country.

Hamas’ enhanced ballistic capabilities have far greater political and ideological significance. Since the occupation of , which removed the power balance against , there is a widespread feeling amongst ’s enemies that fundamentalism is in an upsurge and winning. Radical Islamic Iran and the movements it supports, Hizballah and Hamas, are thought to be on the ascent, while the power of the , , and moderate countries are perceived to be in interminable decline.

 The facts supporting this perception are well known: Iran continues with its nuclear program unabated; Osama bin Laden is still at large; the Moslem Brotherhood registered relative success in the last Egyptian elections in 2005; Israel conducted an unsuccessful war against Hamas in 2006; Hamas politically and militarily defeated the Palestinian Authority in June 2007 [and] breeched the border between Gaza and Egypt in January 2008… and Hizballah defeated Hana Siniora’s government in Lebanon in the spring of 2008. Further afield, but of significance to an Arabic-speaking public, extremist Islamic forces vanquished moderate groups in .

This long line of Islamic successes contributes to the euphoria of Islamic radicalism. It is not surprising that moderate Arab states, the , and many European countries want and expect to hit Hamas hard in this offensive.…

The achievement of a decisive military victory requires to enter Gaza City and the refugee camps with full force. has to dispel the belief that it is reluctant to engage the enemy in urban areas. must make it clear to Hamas that there is no bunker in Gaza that is beyond IDF reach.

In the 2002 Defensive Shield operation, the IDF indeed engaged the enemy in the West Bank . Since then, the IDF has succeeded in reducing terror in Judea and Samaria by 95 percent. Politically, the offensive brought the Palestinian Authority to the realization that the option of terror was no longer viable. The relative calm in Judea and Samaria during the present offensive in Gaza is the result of the military decisiveness of Defensive Shield and of the continuous IDF forays since then.

 Winning the campaign against Hamas must be “seen” and tangibly “felt.” and the West need the Arab world to watch scenes on their television screens whereby hundreds of Hamas terrorists are taken prisoner. must show the surrender of at least some of the Hamas leadership as they raise white flags in defeat. The defeat of Hamas must be palpable, conspicuous and concretely visible.…