Other Gaza options

Regarding “How Israel’s choices for Gaza affect American plans in the Middle East” (November 20), the writer misleads readers by telling them that the only options are 1) “Cutting the grass” at intervals or 2) a full scale invasion to get rid of Hamas, and then being responsible for dealing with two million extra hostile Arabs.

There is a way of greatly cutting down Hamas’s military capabilities, which could lead the population there to realize that there are other options available that could improve their living conditions.

It’s time to try something new: cut the Gaza Strip into two. The IDF should plan it well in advance. Where, how wide and how to defend it. Our army has taken on more difficult tasks in the past.

If the locals get the message and gradually adopt more peaceful activities, the government could decide to withdraw eventually.

The other options have not worked too well. YAAKOV FEUST

Jerusalem

Yonah Jeremy Bob’s analysis (“In the Crossfire,” September 23) that the IDF is somehow not sure whether the Gaza campaign is a law enforcement issue or an armed conflict is perplexing.

Law enforcement involves the sovereign seeking to enforce its laws within its legal boundaries. Unless the doctrine of hot pursuit is applicable, law enforcement activity would stop at the border of the sovereign.

To the extent that the situation in Gaza involves activity from outside of Israel’s borders, I do not understand how IDF legal advisers can conclude that this might be a law enforcement situation.

There is only one conclusion: Israel is involved in an armed conflict and should be free to act to defend its land and its civilians in accordance with the more aggressive actions associated with an armed conflict. ARTHUR MILLER Beit Shemesh

How right Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett is that the IDF is more afraid of the law than of Hamas. What he said is so right. Every soldier that goes to battle needs to take a lawyer with him. The attorney-general is concerned only about working in a legal framework to defeat our foes, so our soldiers are constantly worried about consequences if they take a wrong step.

What other soldiers in the world care so much about what anyone might say about them when they go to battle? JUDY FORD Petah Tikva