The decision to embark on a limited tactical operation makes a lot of sense, especially at this time when all sectors are burning with particularly high eruption potential.
A large-scale operation in the greater Judea and Samaria region, such as Defensive Shield, has a price, including in terms of the inputs of large numbers of forces, weapons and budget, and especially in the potential for casualties in our forces.
Bayit Vagan had a very specific purpose: "a command operation aimed at crushing the terrorist infrastructure in the Jenin refugee camp," thereby making it clear that the State of Israel will not tolerate the establishment of terrorist infrastructures and cities of refuge. Already after about two days of fighting, the goal was achieved thanks to a number of first reasons, among which the initiative and surprise and not a hasty response as many immediately shouted at the attack, with a situation that creates a clear operational advantage.
Operation in Jenin: Magellan Unit fighters clash with armed terrorists || Credit: Report
The other reasons are related to preparations for the operation; the IDF and Shin Bet invested a great deal of time in building an accurate and broad intelligence picture that enabled the forces to act accurately and quickly. Assigning the mission to its most elite units intensifies the asymmetry between Israel and the enemy it is fighting and requires total victory.
But make no mistake – an operation as successful as it may be will not achieve a strategic change here in which Jenin, including the refugee camp, will stop creating terror, and it is certainly not the operation that will deter the PIJ and Hamas. Hamas will continue with all its might to try to take over Judea and Samaria with the basis of its vision of replacing the Palestinian Authority, whose days are undoubtedly numbered, and we see no other alternative in the foreseeable future.
Hamas will continue to operate in the refugee camp. Terrorists in Jenin, photo: AP
The IDF, through the Central Command, would be very wise if it intensified its operational activity in the Jenin refugee camp on a routine basis, in order to prevent a return to the capabilities it encountered on the eve of the operation. As for the strategic achievement, which is undoubtedly a blow to the "octopus head," Iran and Israel must continue to build a strategic plan that deals with preventing Iran's nuclearization, which is the ultimate goal, but no less so with Iran's entrenchment in Syria, Hezbollah's strengthening, and feeding terrorism in the West Bank and Gaza.
We must not forget about the "head of the octopus". Nuclear facility in Iran, photo: Reuters
This is Israel's correct order of priorities, and hence the decision to embark on a focused tree operation with a tactical achievement serves the national interest.
Talia Lankri is a colonel (res.), formerly a senior official in the National Security Council
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