Not just motive

Elder of Ziyon made an important point yesterday about the atttacks at Nahal Oz. On the surface it seemed illogical for an attack against the entry point for gas to Gaza. He points out the terror attack with the complicity and active involvement of Hamas took advantage of an opportunity. The terrorists could strike, so they did.

The terrorists hit wherever they can. Certainly they might try to abduct rather than kill Israelis, but for the most part they will kill any Israeli in the Middle East that they can. Thanks to Israeli defenses, they don’t have the luxury of choosing targets based on perceived symbolic value; they will choose the weakest point they can find and kill whomever they can, not caring if the victims are women, children, Arabs or Jews, and cause all the damage and panic they can.

Whether it’s the buildup of weaponry and infrastructure in Gaza by Hamas that’s accelerated after “disengagement” or Hezbollah’s buildup in the wake of Israel’s retreat from Lebanon, these terror organizations are more about acquiring means and exploiting opportunities. (I would add that the terror directed against Israel by Hamas with the complicity of Fatah in early 1996 was the result of Israel’s withdrawal from Ramallah, Kalkilye, Jenin, Nablus and Bethlehem in late 1995. This effectively transferred responsibility for maintaining order to the PLO, which had no interest in doing so. Hamas was thus able to build a terror infrastructure that was able to carry out the series of bus bombings and other terror attacks in February and March of 1996.) These organizations are dedicated to destroying Israel and killing Jews.

Of Hamas, Hezbollah and Fatah the one that’s least effective now is Fatah. That’s because it was largely the target of operation Defensive Shield. It’s not the corruption that dooms Fatah, but weakness. There is, you see, a military solution to terror: destroy the organizations who perpetrate it.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.