While Hamas leaders in Gaza did indeed expect an IDF assault, the launching of Operation Cast Lead on Shabbos took the terrorist regime by total surprise. This was accomplished by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who insisted on total secrecy and the dissemination of a fair amount of disinformation to the media and elected officials. Only a very small number of people were involved and were aware of all the details of the plan. This permitted Barak to operate under a veil of secrecy that added to the success of the primary air strikes, permitting the IAF to hit over 100 Hamas targets since the operation began at about 11:30AM Shabbos morning (27 Dec.).
Barak explained to officials that operations such as the 1976 Entebbe Rescue of Israeli hostages in Uganda could never have been pulled off without total secrecy, and this is what he demanded in this case too. In actuality, the blueprint for the operation was prepared months ago, coinciding with the beginning of the six-month ceasefire. The plan was only finally approved by Barak after the 19 November barrage of rockets that hit southern Israel hard. The order was given to obtain in-depth accurate intelligence information, providing the air force with an impressive list of possible Hamas targeted.
The cabinet also approved a strike in Gaza, giving the green light to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Barak to determine the timing and other details without additional cabinet approval.
Last week, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the defense minister met at IDF headquarters in central Tel Aviv to approve the operation. While it was clear an offensive was likely, Israel decided to wait and see what position Hamas would take at the end of the ceasefire. They therefore put off bringing the plan for the cabinet’s approval, but they did inform Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of the developments.
On Friday, the decision was made to move ahead with the planned operation, and senior officials including opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu was informed in advance, on Friday night and Shabbos morning.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
Now if they only keep it up and not just to get Tzipi Livni elected as Prime Minister.
Don’t make it sound better then it is!
“Master Plan” please!
It’s a do nothing plan, hitting empty buildings, and empty storage houses.
If you really think Chamas was surprised then I suggest a strong COFFEE with lots of caffeine.
Barak & Olmert are good by the mic and terrible by the fight! So don’t get your hopes high, Daven to Hashem that Moshiach should come.
For a change,they planned something right. This was the best way to get back at the terrorist resho’im,even though the media calls them
militants. The Israeli militants should have the help of Hashem just as the Maccabees did many years ago.
this is the same Barak who hurt acheinu bnei yisroel in chevron