The Jerusalem Post published an article headlined 'Who won?' devoted to the recent developments in Gaza. "Understandably, many Israelis are dissatisfied with the outcome of Operation Pillar of Defense. As was the case in previous clashes with the Hamas and the other terrorist organizations operating in Gaza Strip, there was no clear-cut Israeli victory. The official cease-fire document – which remains unsigned – is opaque," the article begins.
"There is nothing in it, for instance, that obligates Hamas – as the de facto government in Gaza – to maintain the quiet. Theoretically, Hamas bears no responsibility if one of the smaller terrorist organizations – the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, the Salafists, the Popular Resistance Committees and others – were to launch a rocket attack on Israel."
"And as Ashdod Mayor Yehiel Lasri pointed out Thursday, Hamas gained a certain level of legitimacy by negotiating a cease-fire agreement in an international framework," the article reads. "It is important, however, not to lose sight of the many positive developments that have come to light in the aftermath of Operation Pillar of Defense."
"The launching of the operation posed the first serious test of the effects of the Arab uprisings – and Israel appears to have passed the exam. There was real concern ahead of the decision to launch Operation Pillar of Defense that the IDF’s ability to stage large military operations would be more constrained in the wake of the Arab uprisings."
"While Operation Pillar of Defense may not have achieved a clear-cut victory against the terrorists in Gaza, and sooner or later there will be another round of violence – at least as long as Hamas is in control – we should be encouraged by the many positive developments that emerged in the past eight days," the authors conclude.
