An avoidable war

Ehud Olmert responded immediately in the presence of Gilad's parents: "Initial reports are always relatively mild, we'll wait a while." Shamni returned to his office opposite the prime minister's office. Another call came in on the red phone and his face took on a concerned look. "There are casualties and apparently some kidnapped soldiers who have been transferred to Lebanon."

In Jerusalem, at a distance of 200 kilometers (roughly 120 miles) from the northern border, the prime minister and his military secretary tried to imagine the drama going on at the time: The tanks and the armored personnel carriers in pursuit of the kidnappers, the helicopters that took to the air, the look of surprise on the soldiers' faces on the northern border.

'The chief of staff is on the line'

Olmert tried to resume the conversation with the soldiers' parents - who had come to Jerusalem from the distant north - when the red phone rang again. Shamni entered the room: "The chief of staff is on the line," he said.

Dan Halutz updated the prime minister on the developments so far, and concluded with a sentence that every prime minister so far has heard: "I'll get back to you with our proposals."

Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who got on the line immediately after the chief of staff, repeated more or less the same words: "I have asked that a few proposals be drawn up." Meanwhile the pursuit of the kidnappers continued inside Lebanon.

The number of dead rose to eight, and there were two abducted soldiers.

'Are there any other options?'

Three or four hours later the chief of staff opened the discussions in the presence of the prime minister: "There are several possible modes of action, we can either act against Hizbullah, against Hizbullah and Lebanon or against Hizbullah, Syria and Lebanon." Peretz added a few words of his own.

Olmert frowned. "Are there any other options?" he asked the military personnel. No, answered Halutz. "For example, what about not doing anything for the time being and waiting it out."

A thought had occurred to Olmert: "Since 1947 Israel has been engaged in one long war with different names. An Israeli prime minister's role is primarily to prevent war if possible. To postpone it for as long as possible. T

he Katyusha threat on Israel has been ongoing for the past six years. Perhaps we should enter negotiations to bring back the abducted soldiers, and meanwhile instruct the military to prepare for war after which we'll strike Hizbullah a sweeping blow. What's the hurry?"

Olmert leaned toward Peretz who sat to his right: "They think we're inexperienced greenhorns and that we'll decide to charge on them post haste. There's no reason for haste. Soldiers were abducted during Ehud Baraks' term as prime minister but he didn't embark on war. Arik Sharon had problems with Hizbullah, and what did he do? We'll wait as well, and we'll prepare for war if such an eventuality presents itself."

'There's no rush'

Peretz wrinkled his brow. "The role of the army is to propose war," he thought to himself, "my role in the political echelon is to carefully weigh the necessity of embarking on a war that might result in numerous casualties, the destroying of families and homes and the loss of international support.

"However" Peretz still thought to himself, "word has it that I took the wrong portfolio. Now I have the opportunity to put a sock in all those mouths. We'll go to war, and we'll show them all. What an opportunity!"

The experienced Olmert noticed the deliberations of his colleague. "What do you have to say Amir?" he asked. Peretz was still hesitant when the prime minister said:

"There's no rush. The Katyusha rockets have been there for the past six years – let them wait a bit longer. We won't get the abducted soldiers back through war, and we can't predict the number of deaths and suffering that would be inflicted on our residents. Israel only embarks on war when it is attacked."

The room fell silent. "We'll have other opportunities," Olmert tried to console his colleagues who were visibly disappointed by the decision. "War", he quoted a well known saying, "is too serious to leave in the hands of the generals."

The participants went on their way. Another quiet night fell on the State of Israel whose residents fell into deep slumber. Soldiers and civilians destined to die remained alive. But alas, this didn't happen, it was just a dream.