As Hamas drifts, Iran looks to Islamic Jihad

Dan Margalit

Over the weekend, Israelis tipped their hats to the greatness of the Iron Dome missile defense system, whose batteries are still shooting down rocket after rocket, more than 30 of them so far, and significantly diminishing the force of the typhoon-like attack by the Islamic Jihad.

The Iron Dome has become a central component in Israel’s homefront defense, and its success has made the debate over whether or not the anti-rocket system is necessary - absurd. But even this effective defense system cannot grant those communities within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of Gaza the sense of security and normalcy they crave. The missile interceptor is expensive, but regardless, its accomplishments over the weekend will serve to renew the pressure on the Finance Ministry to increase the budget allocated to expanding its operation. srael did not initiate this test run. The initial signs of this clash were evident in the recent attempts by the Islamic Jihad – under Iran’s influence – to carry out terror attacks against Israel from Sinai, and their constant barrage of missile fire – mainly at open unpopulated areas, but constant nonetheless. Israel’s targeted killing of the Popular Resistance Committees chief did in fact exacerbate the exchange, but it was not the event that sparked this large-scale resumption of rocket fire at Israel.
The residents of Israel’s south – not just the ones closest to Gaza - once again found themselves running for cover into the city’s bomb shelters and secure rooms, with schools closed and their daily routines largely paralyzed.

We have been in this movie before. But this time there is a twist: it is safe to assume that the Islamic Jihad is operating at Iran’s behest, not only in response to direct tensions between Jerusalem and Tehran, but also to express Iran’s dissatisfaction with Gaza’s Hamas government. Recent events indicate that Hezbollah and Hamas are trying to partially free themselves from Iran’s grip, and the resumption of violence on the Gaza front aims to signal to Hamas that if they do not toe the extremist line Iran will find someone else who will.

Israel is closely following the events in Gaza, including the infighting within the extremist Palestinian camp – between the extremists and the even more extremists. The potential toppling of the Hamas government and its exclusive power would cast a shadow on Israel’s relations with the Palestinians. But Israel has a more pressing objective: to end the current round of rocket fire. Not because the residents of the south cannot take it – if needed, Israel will keep up the fighting, and it is not clear what the consequences will be.
For now, Israel must protect itself by preventing as many civilian casualties as possible while eliminating the maximum number of terrorists in Gaza. A battle must not be fought with a stopwatch in hand. Israel must continue as long as is necessary, on the assumption that this round of violence, too, will end. But let us keep in mind that, like IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said recently, Israel could find itself embroiled in an all-out war in Gaza this year even if it does not want to.