Operation Protective Edge is justified

Operation Protective Edge represents unsound judgment on the part of the Israeli government and Israeli Defense Forces.

Operation Protective Edge show's that the IDF is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of their citizens.

Their devotion is unquestionable, their judgment indefensible. Gaza and its peaceful civilians are a pawn to Israel's plethora of enemies; a spearpoint; a fundraising tool. Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brotherhood throw cash and weapons at a tiny group of militants in Gaza and watch at a safe distance to see what they've purchased. In the case of July 2014, the cash and weapons have purchased a meager 24 Israeli injuries and major Israeli paranoia.

In the case of Operation Protective Edge, the terrorist-purchased Israeli panic has so far killed 190 Palestinians, injured 1,400 of them, destroyed the infrastructure of Gaza, and gained . . . gained . . . well the gains are a bit fuzzy. Technically if only terrorists were killed, there might be 190 fewer terrorists and Saudi Arabia and Iran would be forced to recruit some more. But since two thirds or more of the deaths were non-militants, Operation Protective Edge victimizes a human Palestine, empowering Hamas to drum up more waves of funding from the Muslim Brotherhood, a pool of supporters far larger than Hamas, Gaza and the two dozen injured Israelis combined. By zeroing in on Gaza and neglecting soft power strategies, the operation offsets geopolitical pressure against Hamas's sovereign military supporters such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. By providing Hamas yet another opportunity to play itself as a hero and leader among victims, the operation undermines the moral, humanistic, and geopolitical support owed to Israel throughout the globe. Operation Protective Edge and its 13,000 missiles have played directly into the hands of Hamas's social, financial, and soft power strategy.

Israel has demonstrated its willingness - it's eagerness - to fight hand to hand with its enemies on a military front. Why has it not shown similar determination to undermine their grassroots influence? Pragmatically, morally, and structurally, Operation Protective Edge pushes all the wrong buttons.

Since this debate began, the operation has turned into a ground invasion. Although Palestinian civilian casualties continue to rise, the ground invasion has been far more efficient at uncovering real Hamas militants than the rocket fire previously, for which I applaud the IDF and Israeli government.