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Israeli defense minister rejected demands to retake Gaza

The pragmatic line advocated by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on the Gaza incursion has earned him the esteem of many in the general Israeli public but might have cost him the support of the far right.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon sit in front of a display of M302 rockets, found aboard the Klos C ship, at a navy base in the Red Sea resort city of Eilat March 10, 2014. Netanyahu, displaying on Monday what Israel said were seized Iranian-supplied missiles bound for militants in Gaza, called on the West not to be fooled by Tehran's diplomatic outreach over its nuclear programme. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3GGUG
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Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon is a man full of surprises and twists and turns. Having already made a few sharp U-turns in his life, his policy during Operation Protective Edge is also said to be one such turn.

One of Israel’s prominent, hard-line right-wing leaders today, Ya’alon has been the dominant champion of an approach to the effect that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) must neither launch a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip nor conquer it. At most, Israel must make do with an operation to destroy Hamas’ terror tunnels. As a result of his approach, scathing criticism from within the circles of his own Likud Party and the right wing was leveled at him. Yet he remained undeterred. When Ya’alon makes up his mind about something, he follows his decision through. When he is immersed in one concept or another, he will not raise his head to look around him. He will have no second thoughts and he will not waver. Instead, he will believe in his approach, paying no attention to other alternatives.

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