Gaza war analyzed in Woodmere

IDF officer speaks at Young Israel

By Malka Eisenberg

Issue of Feb. 6, 2009 / 12 Shevat 5769

Hundreds of men and women filled the main sanctuary of the Young Israel of Woodmere on short notice Motza’ei Shabbat to hear an Israeli reserve officer discuss the goals and accomplishments of Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.The audience listened attentively and watched films and a PowerPoint presentation by the officer, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons. Most attendees –– some of whom have sons currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces –– were from Woodmere. Several community leaders were present, including Rabbi Binyomin Kamenetzky, Rabbi Shaya Richmond and Rabbi Yotav Eliach.

The stated goal of the war, the presentation indicated, was “to strike a blow against Hamas terrorists in order to improve the long-term security of the residents of Southern Israel.” That, the officer claimed, was accomplished. The Israeli government wanted a short-term operation that did not include any major restructuring, he said. Finding Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped on the Gaza border in June 2006, was also not a goal of the operation, he said.

One of the films explained Israel’s attempt to “foster peace and prosperity on both sides of the border” by completely pulling out of Gaza in August 2005. Following this withdrawal, Hamas rose to power and turned their bombs on Israel, putting Sderot and other cities under constant attack, with rockets reaching as far as Be’er Sheva. With the escalation of threats and financing from Iran, Israel was forced to re-enter Gaza to defend its citizens.

The film pointed out differences in the methods used by the IDF and Hamas; while the IDF uses pinpoint attacks to limit casualties among civilians and provides humanitarian aid to the civilians, Hamas’s goal is to attack as many civilians as possible. In contravention of international law, Hamas also uses its own civilians as human shields, firing rockets at Israel from schools, hospitals and mosques.

The officer pointed out that much of Gaza is currently honeycombed with tunnels and threaded with booby-trapped bombs. Israeli soldiers had to be extremely careful and were able to minimize casualties in this operation, he said. Videos revealed anti-aircraft cannons, rockets and other weapons stored inside mosques and sites of weapons caches exploding with a secondary blast following a single airstrike from Israeli forces.

Operation Cast Lead was a necessity to suppress attacks from Gaza and also boosted the morale of troops that had been demoralized since the conflict in Lebanon with Hezbollah, he stated.

“We gave Hamas a good punch,” the officer said. “The color on the cheeks of our soldiers came back since the Lebanon War; a special spirit came back.”

He also cited the “strong spirit, national unity, pulling together to help one another, determination, and learning the lessons of Lebanon War” as positive outcomes of the operation.

Rabbi Eliach, principal of Machon HaTorah, took the microphone after an audience member asked what the attendees can do.

“We are soldiers in the media war,” he said. “Don’t write when you’re angry, but engage in discussions and slowly but surely make them think. Leave phone messages of support to friends and people in the army in Israel... The fact that we care makes a difference. Get involved. This whole thing is about us. Pick a pet project. Visit Israel.”

“Show support during conditions like this,” the reserve officer added.

“Phone the Israeli embassy and consulate and say ‘we are with you, we support you.’ Be in touch with delegations who come. And pray for them.”