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News Analysis

Israel keeps Gaza objectives vague

AP, Jerusalem
Israel has dropped tons of bombs on the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented show of force to make Hamas stop rocket attacks, but it has not said it will try to topple the Islamic militants who have ruled the territory for 18 months
Such a limited definition of goals gives Israel considerable flexibility in deciding when to end the assault, especially if international pressure mounts, while still calling it a success. But this guarded approach also offers Hamas good survival odds, even if the onslaught leaves it badly weakened.
Israel’s unwillingness to reoccupy Gaza or openly try to install a new ruler there gives Hamas considerable leverage in future cease-fire negotiations.
In exchange for calm on Israel's border, Hamas demands an end to the crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Hamas takeover of Gaza 18 months ago. Hamas, which won 2006 parliamentary elections, seized control after a power-sharing agreement with the rival Fatah movement collapsed in violence.
Ending the blockade could help Hamas recover quickly and prolong its rule indefinitely. That, in turn, would all but destroy prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
Israel has been negotiating for the past year with Hamas' rival, moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls the West Bank. However, Israel says it cannot implement an agreement as long as the Iranian-backed Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, controls half of what would be a Palestinian state
With pcacetalks producing no tangible results, a weak-
ened Abbas may not be able to cling to power much longer if Hamas remains in control of Gaza. Abbas' opponents claim his term ends on Jan. 9 and have said (hey will not recognise his authority after that.
Abbas seemed increasingly irrelevant this week, voicing little more than tepid condemnations after the Israeli offensive began. On Monday, Hamas quickly rebuffed his offer to serve as a broker between Israel and the Islamists.
The previous cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, took effect in June.
Its terms were never made public, but Hamas says the understanding was that Israel would gradually ease the blockade.
Instead, Israel allowed in only limited supplies, and it repeatedly closed border crossings for sporadic rocket fire on Israeli border communities. With Israel controlling all of Gaza's cargo passages, the closures have led to widespread shortages of basic goods.
Hamas, meanwhile, kept bringing in weapons through smuggling tunnels in preparation for the next round of fighting.