Thought provoking blog post from Rabbi Lazer Brody:

“Israel has now entered the threshold of Big-Decision time. The IDF can’t remain static for long on the outskirts of very densely-populated urban areas such as Gaza City, the home turf of the Hamas, which loves to fight while hiding among the civilian population. All the cities of Gaza contain entire networks of underground tunnels, which really make combat sticky – you get fired at from one window, and by the time you storm the house, the terrorists have already crossed the street in an underground tunnel and are firing at you from another window. Knowing the size and scope of the enemy is virtually impossible, and the booby-trapped streets and buildings make Gehinnom look like Sesame Street compared to Gaza. The previous six-month ceasefire gave the Hamas plenty of time to prepare.

Big-Decision Time is now upon the Israeli Government: If morale weakens and it pulls out now from Gaza after the IDF has lost four of its finest soldiers to friendly fire, Hamas is the big winner and hero of the entire Third World. And if Israel presses forward to engage the enemy inside the big cities, it will undoubtedly pay a big price in loss of life without necessarily attaining its political and security goals.

So what should the IDF do? Maintain the siege and become sitting ducks to mortar and antitank fire, or penetrate the cities and make the big gamble of human loss?

Hashem has put Israel in a stalemate. We haven’t understood Hashem’s gentle message by withholding the rains particularly in this post-Sabbatical year. We haven’t understood Hashem’s louder message by pulling the economic rug out from under our feet. Now – in spite of the IDF’s gains – Hamas continues the flow of missiles raining on the south of Israel. The army is faced with a most difficult decision as to its next move and is yet long away from putting an end to the rocket and missile fire against the south of Israel. Hashem has put Israel in a situation where there’s only one way out: Teshuva.

Let’s not wait for Olmert, Livni, or Barak to make teshuva. Let’s do it ourselves. Make sure that every child you know learns how to say “Shema Yisrael.” Hashem wants to bring us Moshiach, but we have to desire it as well. A mitzva that we all need to improve on is “Ahavat Yisrael,” loving our fellow. Let’s start with loving the soldiers that are putting their lives on the line for us.”