wcco.com/national/israel.bombing.hamas.2.896783.html -
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Published on: 12/29/2008
Last Visited: 1/1/2009
"It's an interesting question," said Professor Oren Gross, director of the Institute for International Legal and Security Studies at the University of Minnesota.
Gross is also a member of the bar in Israel and spent time at Tel Aviv University.
"What we had was a truce that was in place for 6 months between Israel and Hamas.
And the truce expired, formally, on Dec. 19, but really, it unraveled months before," said Gross.
...
"By and large there is an understanding that Israel is acting in self-defense," said Gross.
Indeed, the President of Egypt and the President of the Palestinian territory both condemned Hamas.
...
According to Gross, Israel acted not only in self-defense, but also to send a message of strength, after months of being attacked without responding.
"Not only to Hamas, but Hezbollah to the north and beyond the borders with the obvious country in mind, Iran," he said.
Now talk is turning to the end game of this attack, with two bitterly divided, long-time enemies.
"I think most people want a stronger truce.
One that would prevent Hamas from shelling Israel, prevent Hamas from launching terrorist attacks, and would minimize at least what's going on now -- which is Hamas arming itself," said Gross.