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Netanyahu and Clausewitz

Alon Pinkas invokes Clausewitz to ask whether Israel had a strategy or clear objective in attacking Gaza, as the outcome — strengthening and legitimizing Hamas and weakening the Palestinian Authority — seems detrimental to Israel’s interests.
Israeli soldiers, atop a tank, prepare to leave their Gaza border position at sun rise November 22, 2012. A ceasefire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers took hold on Thursday after eight days of conflict, although deep mistrust on both sides cast doubt on how long the Egyptian-sponsored deal can last.  REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis (ISRAEL - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS)

Carl von Clausewitz's famous aphorism that "War is the continuation of policy by other means" is a valid and appropriate, if grossly over-used, quote to begin any analysis of any war or limited military operation.

In the case of "Operation Pillar of Defense" in Gaza, there is another, perhaps more relevant, quote from Clausewitz's On War:

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