By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D
JERUSALEM — Currently, Israel is in the midst of what might be called an operation or a mini-war. It’s been going on for several days, and came in response to threats from Islamic Jihad in Gaza to attack Israel. That came in response to Israel’s arrest of an Islamic Jihad activist in the West Bank. There followed several days of closing traffic in the settlements and city (Sderot) close to Gaza, and what was likely to be a preparation for an Israeli operation against Islamic Jihad.
That’s an organization with close ties to Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It’s distinct from the larger organization Hamas, which more or less controls Gaza.
Israel’s operation has been from the air and from Israel, without moving troops into Gaza. It’s been marked by careful targeting to avoid Hamas, and to keep that organization out of the fighting.
So far, as reported by Israeli media, the precision of Israeli attacks has been impressive. Not only has Hamas been avoided, but a range of leading Islamic Jihad figures has been eliminated.
Attacks on Israel, mostly limited to the area close to Gaza and the cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. Those areas are under restrictions on movements and assemblies, but other areas are largely free.
It all coincides with Tisha B’Av, and its marking the destruction of both ancient Temples, by the Babylonians and the Romans, and other disasters in Jewish history. Religious Jews fast on that day, and seek to go to the Temple Mount.
This year Tisha B’Av (the 9th of Av) occurred on the Sabbath, so its occurrence was shifted to Sunday. Occurrences were limited around Gaza and in Ashkelon and Ashdod, but Jews were allowed to visit the Temple Mount.
A substantial number of the rocket attacks have been brought down by Israeli defenses. Others landed in empty fields, the sea, or never made it out of Gaza. Several exploded on the ground while being prepared to be fired. In one case, killing a number of children, whose death was blamed on Israel but turned to Islamic Jihad by Israeli intelligence.
Sirens have sounded near Jerusalem, and Beer Sheva. At least one round of rockets fell in the city of Modiin. We’re about 30 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, which is itself on the outskirts of what’s been targeted. In my morning walks around the nearby moshav of Bnei Dror, it appeared that life was normal. People were walking their dogs, and cars were leaving the moshav for work or shopping. A short conversation with a friend living there reinforced the view that all was normal, but with an alert to what might happen.
The distinction between Hamas and Islamic Jihad is one indication of the conflict within the Palestinian community. Hamas was severely hurt in a previous operation against Gaza,and it’s been treated with some care by Israel. Some 15,000 Gazans have been allowed to enter Israel for work each day. Thats’ been stopped for the period of this operation. And the shipment of fuel oil has also been curtailed. Because of limited fuel oil, reports are that Gaza is on the verge of being without electricity, or having its electricity severely limited. Egypt has worked to maintain something close to the status quo, urging Hamas to stay out of the fight and urging a cease fire on Islamic Jihad and Israel. So far Islamic Jihad has residted the call.
There’s lots of uncertainty as to how this can develop, with special attention on Hamas, and Islamic Jihad’s ally Hezbollah in the north. So far there are no reports of severe Israeli casualties, and limited casualties in Gaza. Deaths in the 30s and several hundred injured.
We’ll call it an operation, and avoid the language of limited war. And hold our breath.
Now there’s a ceasefire. Islamic Jihad is known as a less strongly governed body than Hamas, so we’ll have to see how this works with its various components.
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com