Fast Draw – Offshore Security, Rockets from Gaza

Fast Draw – Offshore Security, Rockets from Gaza

אילוסטרציה (123rf)

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Illustration photo (123rf)
Illustration photo (123rf)

So predictable. The government doesn’t govern. It doesn’t make decisions and even when it does they aren’t carried out.

The State Comptroller reviewed the issue of offshore security for the Israeli gas and oil production facilities in the Mediterranean. He wrote that the discovery of natural gas within Israel’s economic waters is of the utmost financial and strategic importance, and so the same facilities present a tempting target for hostile states and terrorist organizations. Hezbollah leader Nasrallah even stated openly that he will destroy Israeli natural gas rigs.

Still, despite the dangers, the comptroller found large holes in the offshore security envelope. Judge Shapira discovered that the IDF only partially protects the gas production facilities due to limited funds allocated for the mission.

In light of the importance of these rigs the National Security Council at the Prime Minister’s Office began work on recommending proper security procedures for the relevant organizations. The State Comptroller’s Office found that despite the urgency, the Ministry of Defense and the NSC presented their conclusions to the government’s security cabinet only in April 2013, more than two years later. The recommendations were approved by the cabinet seven months later.

The comptroller goes on into detail, nothing new or surprising. Much like other pressing issue, this too is neglected. The gas facilities, despite the massive threats they face, are not properly protected. Someone, from the level of the Prime Minister downwards, didn’t do what was necessary and didn’t give the required urgent orders. Everyone is busy writing recommendation papers and forming plans, as if that’s their job description. No solution in sight.

IHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Almost on the same issue. The Israeli south was targeted yesterday by a large-scale rocket attack. This morning I’ve heard official spokespersons and pundits address tha matter. They kept using strange terms like “proportional response”, “send a message to the enemy” or even worse, “reconquer Gaza.”

The lives of hundreds of thousands of Israeis were disrupted yesterday once again, due to the government’s inability to deal with the threat and its readiness to accept this pattern of rocket fire and proportional response.

When it comes to Gaza there’s no such thing as a proportional response. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said yesterday that if there’s won’t be quied in the south “there’ll be noise in Gaza”. Despite that Gaza remained calm yesterday. The targets hit by the Air Force won’t prevent future rocket volleys.

You don’t need to reconquner Gaza. You only need to let the Air Force do what it does best – making noise, if you will. That’s the only message they’ll understand. But over here our politicians are busy fighting their strange little wars in the Knesset. Deterrence? Israel doesn’t deter the Hamas or the Islamic Jihad in Gaza. They fire when they want to and they know perfectly well what the response will be.