The war objective: New armistice line between Israel and Gaza

The objectives of Israel in this war imposed on it should be limited and, at the same time, effective and consequential. First, what Israel should not do: Israel should not try to reconquer the Gaza strip, neither try to remove Hamas (or the Islamic Jihad) from power. Israeli soldiers should not act as subcontractors for Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah Faction.

On the other hand, the Israeli communities near the Gaza border deserve and need an effective protection against terrorist incursions. The response of Israel should be to create a new ceasefire line that will replace the present 1950 armistice line between Gaza and Israel. The new ceasefire line will move the armistice border about 500-1000 meters (1,500 to 3,000 feet) inside the present Gaza Strip, and create a no-man, non-habitable, buffer zone between Gaza and the Israeli border communities (Sderot, Nir Am, Mefalsim, and so on). The no-man area will be under Israeli sovereignty.

The enclosed map makes the author’s proposal clear: the black broken line is the 1950 ceasefire line. The red line should be the 2023 ceasefire line. The no-man zone will provide a defensive buffer against any future land aggression from the Gaza rulers. The Iron Dome will continue providing a defensive air-defense to the Israeli border communities.

Wars should have consequences.