Can Israel deter Hamas?
Past experience should teach Israel that the most efficient deterrent against Hamas terror is to threaten its hegemony in the Gaza strip — and point out that this time around, no Arab country will come to its rescue.
“Hamas is responsible and Hamas will pay,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the emergency Security Cabinet meeting June 30 following the discovery of the bodies of Gil-Ad Shaer, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach. Now it emerges that the three kidnapped youths were murdered by their abductors 18 days ago, close to the time of their June 12 abduction.
The desire to extract a steep price from Hamas is more than just an expression of anger and an attempt to assuage the Israeli public's desire for vengeance. It is also meant to deter Hamas. The question is: What are effective means of deterrence?
