Nice piece. I now feel I understand the strategy of the Israeli government. I just need to point out one thing others haven't in their comments. The only thing Netanyahu has shown a talent for is getting people to forget his past failures so he can embark on a new one.

Israel is like a house in a neighborhood of other nations (houses). It has a few adopted children it wants to discipline. So it goes outside and breaks the arms of its adopted children. It even sends its biological children to administer the punishments. The neighbors look on aghast. Even if what you say is true. Even if the IDF removes this mythical central command of Hamas, no one will let their children play with the children of the Israeli house. No one will want to visit.

Sure, Israeli's house will be quiet. The neighborhood will calm down. In the years ahead the Israeli house will become more and more dilapidated as everyone spurns it. The ones who wanted no part in the violence will leave. The ones who don't want to live in such a house will leave. Israel, as I hoped it would be, as I thought it was, will become another mafia State.

Again, nicely written piece!