Israel's latest Gaza attack could spiral out of control

Source: 

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/15/israel-gaza-attack-netanyahu

Summary of the Article: 

An extreme act, such as Israel's assassination of Hamas military chief, Ahmed Al-Jabari invites extreme consequences. These are now threatened by Gaza militants who vow to resume the suicide bombings that terrorized Israeli cities a decade or more ago.

Israel's most recent conflicts- Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008 and Lebanon in 2006 is pitted with mis calculation about the capabilities of the enemy, has ability to inflict real pain and the length of time needed to subdue him. Cast Lead was dressed up as a victory that entailed sever, lasting political and diplomatic consequences for Israel without achieving its primary military objective, defanging of Hamas.

Ostensibly learning from the past errors, Barak, the Israeli defense minister, defined the operation's aim this time around. He said, sought to strengthen deterrence  deplete the Hamas rocket infrastructure, damage Hamas and other terror organizations, and minimize harm to Israel". But looked at closely, these are vague objectives.

Hamas knows that Israel does not want to topple the regime entirely and usher in an era of chaos in Gaza, and Israel knows that it is very difficult to score points against a terror organization reared on ethos of suicide and dispersed among one of the most densely populated civilians in the world.

Netanyahu, who cultivates a strong man image, will seek re-election in January. He is striving to impress Israeli voters with a decisive blow against Hamas, and cannot now desist until such a blow has been demonstrably delivered. Netanyahu's war may actually end up bolstering Hamas in Gaza, or alternatively cause it splinter and loss ground to more Jihadis groups.

Egypt Torn Between Allies in Gaza and Treaty With Israel

Source: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/world/middleeast/israels-gaza-strikes-test-egyptian-leader.html?hp&_r=0

Summary of the article:

The Egyptian president, Mohammed Morsi, has fired back at Israel from the arsenal of diplomacy as Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip confront him with a wrenching test of loyalities, to Hamas and to Egypt's peace treaty with Israel. 

In just Two days, Mr.Morsi has recalled Egypt's ambassador to Tel Aviv, dispatched his prime minister on a solidarity mission to Gaza, and even publicly instructed top general to inspect air bases and prepare land defense near Gaza border.

Both sides in the conflict appear to be testing Egypt's new leader. Hamas is wondering how much it may draw from the Egyptian state, While Israel seems to probe the depth of Mr. Morsi's stated commitment to the peace treaty.

Mr.Morsi has so far vowed full backing for Hamas and the palestinians. In Egypt's domestic politics, the crisis has rallied a sense of national unity behind the president. And even his rivals have cheered the vigor of his response.

Surprising some, Mr.Morsi has not opened Egypt's border to Gaza and instead has moved aggressively to try to shut down or blow up smuggling tunnels long used by Hamas to circumvent the Israeli boycott, contending that they pose a security risk to Egypt.

Israel threatens to overthrow Abbas over Palestinian statehood bid

Sourse of the Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/14/israeli-minister-threatens-abbas-un?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

Summary for those people who do not have time or energy to read the whole article

Hardline Foreign minister, Avigdor Liberman, is arguing on Israel that should topple the Palestinian president, if he still presses ahead with request for recognition of the Palestinian state. In a draft distributed to the media, Liberman argues on Israel only viable option to overthrow the president, he said " A reality in which UN recognized a Palestinian state according to a unilateral process will destroy all Israeli deterrence".

The minister of strategic affair warned the Palestinian that they would pay a heavy price if they submitted a resolution seeking for state. Besides, it would be flagrant breach of the Oslo Accords.Israel is concentrating its diplomatic offensive on EU. Liberman held a three day meeting with the Israeli ambassadors in the European nations in Vienna to brief them on the consequences of a vote in favor of Palestine in order for them to step up pressure on their host governments.

The French president told a Paris press conference that he could not rule out the possibility of France supporting the Palestinian  initiative. Israel government said that the adoption of the resolution will give Israel the right to reevaluate previous agreement with Palestine Liberation Organization, and consider cancelling them partially or completely, and would make progress in the peace process more difficult in the future.