It must be nice to be the biggest bully in the neighborhood, especially if you have the comfort of an even bigger bully standing behind you to save your bacon should that prove necessary.
Ariel Sharon's policy of provoking aggression on the part of Palestinians, of setting impossible conditions and then holding the parties accountable when those conditions are not achieved, continue to thrive in the Israel of Ehud Olmert. The most recent example is the ongoing handling of the situation involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
After suggestions in recent weeks that there might be signs of a softening of the Hamas stance calling for the elimination of Israel, Olmert took the opportunity of Shalit's capture to make Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh personally responsible for Shalit's safe return and placing him under penalty of death. On Sunday they even went so far as to launch a missile attack against his office - even while negotiations for a peaceful return of the soldier appeared to be progressing. And completely ignoring the fact that it is believed those holding Shalit take their orders not from Haniyeh but instead from Syrian-based Khaled Mashaal.
News flash for Prime Minister Olmert: Killing people is not a proven method of convincing others not to reciprocate. Shalit is still alive, and it is more probable your actions threaten that state rather than enhance his chances of remaining so.
There is no question that Israeli civilians have suffered horribly from the actions of suicide bombers. It is unconscionable that the bombings continue. It is unacceptable that Palestinian gunmen invaded sovereign Israeli territory to capture Cpl. Shalit. But, both eyes for an eye and a whole room full of teeth for a tooth has not worked as a policy thus far. It is incumbent upon Israel as the exponentially more powerful party in this conflict to contain violence, and to not resort to murder in the guise of military response to provocation as a means of pretending to solve anything.
Perhaps the Israeli intent is to provoke the execution of Shalit so that they will be "justified" in executing an overwhelming military response that will, based on past history, take a heavy toll on unarmed civilian Palestinian women and children. Or perhaps Israel is reacting in anger instead of implementing a fully reasoned and considered policy. The first notion is despicable, the second frightening if being conducted by a military with the capacity of Israel's.
In either event, Israel does not need to fear the results of their actions. If too many of their neighbors become concerned and threaten a response, any help Israel may need will be immediately forthcoming from a United States who will justify any action to preserve its ally in the Middle East. The issue for American politicians is not one of right or wrong, but rather one of being all too aware the Cuban immigrants and American Jews are the linchpin for victory in too many important elections.
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