It is a complicated conflict in a long-troubled area. Here is a look at some of the issues involved in finding an end to the fighting:
Q: What's holding up a ceasefire?
A: Two things: First, Israel has made it clear it won't cease its operation before Hamas stops firing rockets. Hamas is determined not to be seen to surrender and seeks an agreement that avoids humiliation. The joint French-Egyptian proposal calls for simultaneous cessation of fighting, for a limited time, to allow for humanitarian relief. This idea is now being tried out by both parties for a limited time each day. The second holdup involves ending the flow of weapons to Hamas, which have come through tunnels from Egypt and possibly in cartons dropped by boats offshore. "There will either be a reliable mechanism for preventing smuggling or the operation will continue," Mideast envoy Tony Blair says.
Q: What kind of mechanism would prevent arms smuggling?
A: Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority believe it requires an international monitoring force of some kind stationed along the frontier between Egypt and Gaza. Such a force was called for in a 2005 agreement and, for a time, the European Union monitored the crossing at Rafah. The arrangement lacked teeth, however, and EU monitors refused to carry out the monitoring in the absence of Palestinian Authority personnel. In June, 2007, the PA staff had, effectively, been replaced by Hamas. Hamas now rejects the idea of an international force. Technically, the parties are discussing several options to prevent the digging of tunnels, including a canal that would run the 9-mile length of the boundary from the Mediterranean, and a wall that would be built deep underground all along the frontier. (Some of the current tunnels are dug more than 20 yards down.)
Q: Do all of the weapons come through the tunnels?
A: Most of the rockets are homemade. The Qassam rocket is a rudimentary missile that is put together in common metal shops. It uses sugar and fertilizer as propellant, and fertilizer and TNT in the warhead. It has no guidance system and is difficult to aim. Hence it is usually aimed at a large target, such as the Israeli town of Sderot. It has a range of about 12 miles. The Grad rocket, really a low-level form of the Soviet-designed Katyusha rocket, is more sophisticated, accurate and deadly. It has a longer range than the Qassam, reaching targets about 25 miles away. It is manufactured abroad -- probably in China, Israelis say -- and must be smuggled into Gaza.
Q: Does Israel want to destroy Hamas?
A: Israeli leaders insist that is not the goal of their operation, though they say they'd be happy if the Palestinian people found a way to do away with the organization. Israel insists it will be happy just to see the end of the rockets, and the prevention of a new arms buildup.
Q: What are Egypt's goals?
A: Cairo wants Gazans to be prosperous, peaceful and to remain in Gaza. President Hosni Mubarak is worried about the growing political strength of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. If Hamas, an offshoot of the Brotherhood, should emerge victorious in this conflict, it would likely inspire many Egyptians to support the Brotherhood. Similarly, if the crossing with Gaza should be opened, and the crossings between Gaza and Israel closed, Egypt worries it will end up too closely linked to the strip and to the Hamas movement. As a result, Egypt wants a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, the deployment of PA personnel along its frontier with Gaza, and the deployment of an international force only in a technical and advisory capacity.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Canadian clients may not useMust credit Toronto Globe and Mail(All currency U.S.)
Post new comment