Thursday, August 10. 2006
By Anshel Pfeffer (Jerusalem Post)
What a difference 10 days make.
Following Wednesday's cabinet decision to extend the offensive at least as far as the Litani River, the bogging-down of discussions in the UN Security Council and the United States's unflagging support - and that of the indomitable Tony Blair - we're talking about another two weeks of warfare, perhaps more. Very few Israelis, if any, are pleased with the prospect of further fighting and the inevitable loss of human life, but it's become perfectly clear that the only chance of a significant Israeli achievement in this war is in being in for the long run, with all that entails.
The government's decision does more than give Israel another chance, it places on the IDF and the cabinet the heavy responsibility of making sure that the sacrifices already made and those to come are not squandered. It's not only a duty to the fallen, but also to the other parts of Israeli society who are shouldering the load: more than a million Israelis who have been living for over a month in mortal danger within the rocket range; the businesses that have continued operating despite major difficulties, ensuring that our economic progress continues; and, perhaps most of all, the reserve soldiers and their families.
Morale here is high, turn-up rates have been exceptional and the grumblings about missing or faulty equipment are rapidly receding as emergency supplies are rushed up from bases around the country.
A massive reserve call-up is one of the gravest decisions an Israeli government can make, but now that it's been done, and well-received by the nation, it has to be made full use of. The reservists all realize that they might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice; if they feel misused, it will create a public backlash no government can or should survive.
What constitutes victory? Commentators and experts around the world have been talking about this point almost from the moment the war started: Can Israel win? Why isn't it winning yet? Could it be losing?
The government and IDF generals haven't made things easier by continually publicly redefining and downgrading their definition of a victory. There should be an end to all talk of winning, not because we can't win - we have to ultimately - but because this war is only one small part of a much longer confrontation.
Israel will hopefully have improved its security situation by the end of this round. Perhaps it will have been worth the sacrifice, but there is no "war to end all wars," not even on just one front, and any impressions otherwise given by politicians both in government and opposition are dangerous illusions.
Israel - with no thanks to its own leaders - has received valuable time to achieve at least some of this war's aims, but there's no guarantee that the time will be put to good use.
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