IAF renews air strikes in Gaza

The IDF renewed its military activities in the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday, following a morning of calm.

IAF helicopters fired missiles aimed at areas where Qassam rockets have been launched in recent days.

Earlier, Head of IDF Operations Major General Yisrael Ziv warned that the entire area of Beit Hanoun in Gaza would be demilitarized, if the firing of Qassam rockets would continue.

"The IDF will clear all Qassam launchers from Beit Hanoun. We will allow no movement, and monitor the area, including firing," he said. "If the terrorists choose to fire from inside the houses, we will warn the residents, and if necessary will remove them from there."

Since operation "First Rain" was launched Friday, the IAF carried out about 50 air strikes, with 30 targets being attacked. An Islamic Jihad leader was assassinated, and 354 wanted Palestinians have been arrested in the West bank.

Major General Ziv also said that the IDF notified all civilians before military operations were carried out. "We informed them to stay clear of any place from which rockets were launched. We intend to utilize the fullest of our weapons before we consider any ground operation," Ziv said.

'Moving toward stabilization'

Over the long run, Ziv estimates that security in Israel will improve as a result of the pullout.

"A major transformation had taken place. We are now in the midst of a process of reshaping the rules of the game, moving toward stabilization. Operation "First Rain" is a part of that process," Ziv said. Major General Ziv is expected to retire in coming months, after two-and-a-half years as Head of the operations branch.

Referring to the operation in Gaza, ziv said that "the objective of the operation is to send a message through that the rules of the game have changed in the wake of the disengagement… the unbearable ease in which rockets are being fired into Israel, under the assumption that Israel will restrain its response, is ungrounded.," Ziv said.

"Under the new rules, rocket launchings or attacks on Israel from any place in the Strip are forbidden. As long as the children of Sderot cannot sleep, no one will sleep in Gaza."

'PA must take responsibility'

Ziv believes that the Palestinian Authority must decide if it assumes responsibility over its own fate, or stay a prisoner of Hamas.

"All IDF operations in the pullout's aftermath are grounded on the principles of respect and deterrence. As long as the PA will act as a sovereign entity and prevent the launching of terror attacks from Gaza, we will make the maximum effort to respect its autonomy. However, as long as terror continues, we will adhere to the deterrence policy," Ziv stressed.

Referring to current statements made by Hamas leader that the organization will cease its Qassam strikes, Ziv said he is not impressed.

"We have no intention of going into an analysis of Palestinian internal affairs. The PA is the responsible entity in the Strip. The PA now suffers from political weakness, and its attitude toward law enforcement is inconsistent. This is the root of the problem."

"However," Ziv continued, "We have also seen another kind of Authority lately, during the pullout, when all the mutual agreements were fulfilled. This shows us that when the PA wants to accomplish something, it has the capacity to do so."

Turning his attention to the issue of the upcoming elections in the Authority, Ziv said that a participation of Hamas in the political process is dangerous. "Hamas participation in the elections will grant it legitimacy as an armed political organization and undermine the position of the Authority," Ziv said.

A new horizon in the middle-east?

He added that the middle-east is currently facing a crucial moment in time. "The American presence in the region, and the international pressure for democracy are influential, but there is still a long way to go, and we have plenty of tests ahead of us. However, the middle-east has never been closer to a change than it is today," Ziv concluded.