Editorial by the Left Bank website in Israel 27 December 2008 at the launching of operation “Cast Lead”

Once again Israel has gone to war to defend it “wounded national pride” and to rehabilitate the IDF’s power of deterrence.

The government’s decision to go to war, as a superficial response to the problem of the Qassam rockets, reflects weakness. Instead of talking and negotiating and lifting the siege of Gaza, the government is using its military and technological advantages to avoid facing the political reality. In this way it resembles its American patron.

Israel has been unable to crush the people of Gaza via blockade, shortages, or suffering inflicted. Israel’s evasion of the necessity to speak with the Palestinian people and its representatives across the entire political spectrum, and its choice of war, will only lead to needless disasters. Those who seek peace say No! to the Qassam rockets and No! to the terrible siege against one and half million Gazans. There is a political solution to the firing of Qassams and it can be found by talking and via a willingness to compromise. It cannot be found through the launching of Cast Lead missiles at population centres.

We call for the cessation of the bombing, the lifting of the siege, and negotiations for an immediate ceasefire. The State of Israel has a proven military capability to sow destruction and death on a large scale, but no strategic goal can be achieved without an acute shift in Israel policy.  

Editorial of Hagada Hasmalit [The Left Bank, http://hagada.org.il/hagada/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6398] translated from the Hebrew by Sol Salbe.