"This is effectively a first world state attacking a poor and largely defenceless population. It looks like a rerun of Operation Cast Lead,' he said.
"'The timing is interesting and it looks like Netanyahu is creating a crisis to ensure his re-election,' the MP added."
Leading German newspaper Spiegel reports:
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping the offensive in the Gaza Strip wins his Likud party more votes in January's election.
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"'When the cannons roar, we see only Netanyahu and Barak on the screen, and all the other politicians have to applaud them,' wrote the daily Haaretz in a commentary published Thursday. 'The assassination of (Hamas' top military commander Ahmed) Jabari will go down in history as another showy military action initiated by an outgoing government on the eve of an election.'
"Indeed, one can conclude that the most recent offensive against militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip -- which started Wednesday with the killing of Jabari -- has been conceived as more of a show fight for the Israeli public than the beginning of a decisive battle."
And Asia times writes:
Precursor to War with Iran?"So why snuff out al-Jabari? Simple. Israel goes to the polls in January. Thus emerges Bibi's political campaigning in full-action mode. Campaign motto: Let's kill Palestinians. With such thrills on offer, any other Israeli political voice -- even slightly dissenting -- is drowned."
The top British Rabbi -- when asked by the BBC on his thoughts on what's really going on in Gaza right now -- replied: "I think it has got to do with Iran, actually."
Why Iran?
Anti War lays out one theory:
"This escalation occurs just days after widespread reports about newly reelected Obama mulling a grand bargain with Iran over its disputed nuclear program. Barbara Slavin and Laura Rozen at Al-Monitor reported on Monday that US officials told them Washington was considering offering a 'more for more' deal with Iran, based on the fuel swap deal from Obama's first term.
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