In This Week's Peace Report

News and analysis from the Israeli and Arab press that goes beyond the American headlines:

THE GAZA WAR: In response to rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip, Israel launched a military operation on Saturday morning, which has been reported as the largest Israeli military operation in Gaza since 1967.

CAN ISRAEL'S OPERATION SUCCEED? Prominent Israeli historian Tom Segev has his doubts. "Israel is striking at the Palestinians to 'teach them a lesson,'" he writes in Haaretz ...

TIME FOR AN EXIT STRATEGY? Israeli leaders seem to have prepared for the military operation in Gaza with lessons from the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war in mind. One such lesson is the focus on the operation's objectives and on seeking an exit strategy accordingly.

AVOID A GROUND INVASION: The broad Israeli support for the military operation launched Saturday clearly ends at the point in which ground troops enter the Gaza Strip.

MILITARY OPERATION STOKES ARAB STREET: Rallies condemning Israel's military operation in Gaza took place yesterday across the Arab world.

THE NUMBERS GAME: A poll carried out yesterday for Israel Television Channel 10 suggests that the military operations may have reinforced a trend of rising Israeli public support for left-wing parties relative to the right-wing parties.

Read the entire Peace Report here.

Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher - December 29, 2008

SPECIAL GAZA WAR ISSUE: Causes, complications, criticisms...

This operation has the limited objective of restoring the ceasefire. The operation's limited nature, while reflecting a sound and cautious approach, also inevitably reflects the fact that neither Israel nor its moderate Arab neighbors, Egypt and the PLO in the West Bank, has a workable strategy for actually dealing with Hamas in the long term.

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Americans for Peace Now: December 29, 2008

APN to Bush: Help Stop Bloodshed; Achieve Ceasefire; Stabilize Gaza Situation

Israeli Boy being comforted in Southern Israel; Hamas Security Compound on Fire

"With heavy hearts we find ourselves today re-issuing this same plea for rational, responsible and above all sensible policy to avoid further escalation and potential catastrophe" said Debra DeLee, APN President and CEO.

Shalom Achshav Statement

YNET News: "The ongoing battles will endanger the lives of the residents of the Gaza vicinity. The current round will end in a ceasefire agreement and it is better to sign it now," the Peace Now statement said.

Issue Brief from Yossi Alpher, Israeli Security Expert (APN exclusive)

This operation has the limited objective of restoring the ceasefire. The operation's limited nature, while reflecting a sound and cautious approach, also inevitably reflects the fact that neither Israel nor its moderate Arab neighbors, Egypt and the PLO in the West Bank, has a workable strategy for actually dealing with Hamas in the long term.

READ MORE >

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