I compliment you on your dispassionate analysis. I disagree with you on one point. International pressure will happen no matter what Israel does. If civilians aren't harmed by Israel, Hamas will fabricate an incident, and the world press will gleefully latch on to it. Therefore, Israel must act in a moral way, but must do what best protects the Negev communities and its soldiers without giving the BBC veto power. Stan

It has become painfully obvious that most mainstream news networks will take Hamas and other terrorists at their word, when most of what they say is fabrication.

and now for a different opinion: this "limited incursion" strategy has done NOTHING to weaken hamas or to stop the cross-border attacks. the usefulness of this method was demonstrated clearly last summer in lebanon, which is why the cabinet is now applying it to gaza. maintaining this "balance of forces", just lets hamas live to fight another day, and leaves israel to endure continued attacks. what is needed is a new strategy - not old wine in new bottles. hamas must be "encouraged", in whatever way, to come out and fight, either by direct military pressure, such as the staging of a massive troop buildup, or by disinformation. only then can they be dealt a significant blow, and hopefully wiped out, by a full-scale military campaign, with clear objectives and a timetable for completion (and handover to egyptian or un forces).

End.