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Israel's Only Option: Destroy Hamas Entirely

Krauthammer: Olmert has a second chance to defeat extremism

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 9, 2009 9:48 AM CST

(Newser) – There are only two possible outcomes of the war in Gaza, writes Charles Krauthammer: the complete destruction of Hamas or an internationally supervised truce à la Lebanon. Under immense diplomatic pressure, Israel is hinting it will accept the French-Egyptian ceasefire plan. That would be "a terrible mistake," writes the Washington Post columnist, who says that Israel is on the brink of destroying "the one-step-from-madness gangster theocracy in Gaza."

Israel can't kill every single Hamas gunman, but it can degrade Hamas' authority until the majority of Palestinians no longer accept its legitimacy. But if Israel stops now and accepts the "charade" of a Lebanon-style truce, it will be only a few years before a fortified Hamas starts targeting Tel Aviv, the airport, and even the country's nuclear facility. "Which is why," says Krauthammer, that "the only acceptable outcome of this war, both for Israel and for the civilized world, is the disintegration of Hamas rule."

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, right, talks as Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni listens during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. (AP Photo)

Smoke caused by explosions from Israeli military operations is seen on the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday, Jan. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

In this handout image provided by the Israeli Defense Forces' Spokesman's Office, Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, center, visits troops fighting in the northern Gaza Strip. (AP Photo)

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gabriela Shalev, left, greets U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the UN. (AP Photo/John Marshall Mantel)

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Hamas can be brought down, but only if Israel completes the real mission of this war. For the Bush State Dept. to prevent that with the premature imposition of a cease-fire would be not just self-defeating but shameful. - Charles Krauthammer

Weapons will continue to be smuggled. Deeper fortifications will be built for the next round. Mosques, schools and hospitals will again be used for terrorist safe havens. Do you think French "peacekeepers" are going to raid them? -

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

riffran

Jan 12, 2009 12:27 AM CST

dead islamo fascist commit no murders, launch no missles, I wish hummis (he he) good luck in catching a bullet

Zebraone

Jan 11, 2009 9:19 PM CST

'hammas' is a cancer in the Muslem world. ~~~~ I refuse to dignify the term with any capitals! Those that want to live, are going to kill those that want to die!~~~~ arabic kamikazi's will get the same treatment that their namesake recieved!~~~ There is no dignity in blowing oneself to bloody shreads, to get to 'paradise'

Guest

Jan 9, 2009 7:13 PM CST

What an unrealistic expectation! Hamas is just a symptom of the real problem. There will always be someone in Gaza to terrorize Israel as long as they remain oppressed and struggling to survive. I bet if you took a poll of the Palestinian people in Gaza, it would show significant support for Hamas. That is not to say that all the Palestinians want to kill innocent Israelis. It's just that they don't have must of a choice but to support Hamas with the atrocities occurring in this war.

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Israel's Only Option: Destroy Hamas Entirely