Islamic Militants Sure Knew What They Were Doing

I can't understand Israeli leaders sometimes. The militants have a playbook and strategy: when there is pressure on them, or when there is political progress being made that goes against what the Islamic militants want (Abbas and the International community forcing Hamas into an agreement to recognize Israel for example), Hamas and others will resort to their old and very succesfull standby, attack Israel. In this case they kidnapped a 19 yr old Israeli soldier.

The response from Israel has been, quite predictably, violence against Palestine and Israeli threats to widen the conflict to nations such as Syria.

Israel today stepped up its confrontation with Palestinian militants over the capture of an Israeli soldier and threatened an even broader response —including possibly a strike in Syria — if the young man is not freed.

Israel started shelling areas in northern Gaza where Palestinians often fire Qassam rockets into Israeli, preparing for a possible incursion in the north, and also flew warplanes over the house of Syrian president Bashar Assad, a blunt message, Israelis said, that he should help in freeing the soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

As Israeli tanks hunkered down inside southern Gaza at the airport here, with warplanes knocking out half of Gaza's electricity and pounding sonic booms over houses, there were no signs that the confrontation would ease. Rather, the crisis seemed to tip toward wider violence.

Somewhere, hidden in one of their safehouses, a highlevel Hamas militant is gleefully hearing this news and and is not at all surprised at Israel's response, they in fact where hoping for such a response. They want such Israeli responses because it hampers any political solutions or talks between the PA and Israel, a circumstance Hamas definitely prefers since it is not exactly an organization open to much compromise, which any political process will inevitably lead.

Lets think back to the numerous instances in which negotiations and talks between Israel and the PA where, inevitably interupted or prefaced with increased militant attacks and suicide bombings? Why? Because they want any talks and possible compromises derailed because it is in Hamas' interest.

So why, why do the Israeli's continue to play into the hands of the Palestinian Muslim militants with such predictable shows of overreacting force?

Will this be the beggining of a tit-for-tat spiral of violence and counter-violence that will make negotiations all but impossible? I hope not.