Don't let 'Summer Rain' turn into 'flood'

Israeli troops entered the southern Gaza Strip town on Wednesday and invaded the Rafah area with tanks and armored vehicles to conduct an operation code-named 'Summer Rain'.

The operation is the first large scale military action Israel has taken since its strategic withdrawal from the area last year after 38 years of occupation. The purpose of the operation was to rescue a 19 year old Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by the Palestinian militants on Sunday during a cross border fight where two Israeli soldiers were also killed on the spot.

On Monday, three militant groups under Hamas issued a statement saying that they wanted to exchange Palestinian women and children detained in the Israeli prison with the kidnapped Israeli soldier. But Israel rejected the demand. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claimed that Palestinian authority and its leader Mahmoud Abbas should be responsible for the security of the kidnapped Israeli soldier.

Meanwhile, Israel has rallied a large number of troops surrounding Gaza preparing to launch further attack. To prevent the conflict from escalating, Egypt and France have contacted Palestinian leaders and tried to intervene for the release of the Israeli soldier however this has failed.

It is reported that the Palestinian militants' action aims to sabotage the peace effort made by the two sides. Abbas and Olmert held an informal meeting in Jordan last week. Both sides agreed that they will hold formal talks soon. But the kidnapping accident has cast a shadow over the planned Palestinian and Israeli summit and made it possible to abort.

Olmert said the Summer Rain operation will last for a few days. It is reported that the Israeli army has entered northern Gaza Strip and planned to expand their operation. In addition to these serious military attacks, the Israeli side has also made a severe punishment plan - if the Israeli soldier cannot be released, Israel will stop supplying food, water and gas to the Gaza Strip town. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya will be on the black list of being kicked off too. In order to avoid the situation in 1994 when an Israeli soldier was killed during the rescue, Israeli military action is expected to escalate and the Gaza Strip might be under bloodshed again.

Analysts say that the reason Olmert approved the military operation against Palestinians was to show his tough stance to the Israeli people. He thought if he agreed to talk with the Palestinian militants and negotiate with them, it would seem that he is making a compromise with the Palestinian side and maybe the Palestinian militants will demand more and continue to take similar action. He also intends to improve his own powerful image. As he has no military background, people doubt his experience in security issues when the general election comes. If the Summer Rain operation really can save the Israeli soldier, this would boost Olmert's public image. It would also be helpful for him to carry out unilateral plans in the future.

So far, Hamas'radical groups haven't indicated any sign of compromise either and have still called on Palestinian people to take arms and fight with Israeli troops. The security of the Israeli soldier is also worrisome for millions of people. The deterioration of the Palestinian and Israeli situation has aroused great concerns from the international community. People can only pray that the two sides will take restraint in their attitude and not let the Summer Rain turn into a 'flood' or bloodshed again.

By People's Daily Online