Top 10 must-reads on Operation Protective Edge

Since Operation Protective Edge was launched, the internet has been awash with articles and analysis — here are the top ten:

1. The Tragic Self-Delusion Behind the Hamas War. Haviv Rettig Gur argues that Hamas thinks it’s fighting an anti-colonial war, and that its strategy is one of protracted attrition against a foreign enemy.

2. Israel’s Deadly Invasion of Gaza is Morally Justified. Yishai Schwartz argues that Israel is fighting for a world in which terrorists cannot manipulate their opponents’ morality to the waging of just wars morally impossible — and that’s the right measure of proportionality.

3. Israel’s Critics Don’t Want a Proportionate Response in Gaza. They Want No Response at All. Dan Hodges argues that those who criticise Israel’s ‘disproportionate’ response without offering a more ‘proportionate’ alternative just don’t want Israel to defend itself at all.

4. Israel’s Defensible Tactics, and Futile Strategy. Gershon Baskin argues that the only solution is an Arab League-led task force to disarm Hamas and destroy the threat of the tunnels.

5. There’s Something Very Ugly in this Rage against Israel. Brendan O’Neill argues that anti-Jewish riots in Europe demonstrate the thin line between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.

6. The Explosive, Inside Story of How John Kerry Built an Israel-Palestine Peace Plan—and Watched It Crumble. Ben Birnbaum and Amir Tibon tell the tantalising behind-the-scenes story of the failure of the peace talks and the establishment of the unity government.

7. Is Israel Finally Winning the Hasbara Battle? Andrew Silow-Carroll argues that the world is finally understanding Israel’s case.

8. Mowing the Grass in Gaza. Efraim Inbar and Eitan Shamir explain that Israel’s strategy isn’t to destroy Hamas: it’s to cut it down to size.

9. What, Exactly, Is Hamas Trying to Prove? Jeffrey Goldberg says that Hamas’s goal is to make Israel kill Palestinians for the cameras.

10. Israel’s Efforts to Spare Gaza Civilians is Exemplary. William Saletan challenges allegations that Israel is targeting civilians.