Israel - Defensive Considerations
The sole purpose of this page is to ask the reader to consider some important points.
The following presentations are only speculation and in no way does it represent any specific nation's policy. Think of it this way "what if...."
Defense of the Land of Israel is an important part of the thought process when considering the two-state solution. Important questions need to be asked of a potential neighbor:
1. What is their ideology
2. What is their theology?
3. How have they conducted themselves in other lands where they have lived?
The following presentations are only speculation and in no way does it represent any specific nation's policy. Think of it this way "what if...."
Defense of the Land of Israel is an important part of the thought process when considering the two-state solution. Important questions need to be asked of a potential neighbor:
1. What is their ideology
2. What is their theology?
3. How have they conducted themselves in other lands where they have lived?
Introducing the Potential "New Neighbors"
Local "ice breaker" convention - do their gesters look familiar?
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To the southwest in Gaza we have the government of Hamas - what do they have to say?
“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it” – Hamas Charter
The day of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas began launching rocket attacks against towns and schools inside Israel. Since this withdrawal Hamas has launched over 12,000 rockets and 6000 mortars at Israeli towns.
Hamas Qassam rocket launchers in Gaza
Hamas Soliders in Gaza
Anti-Israel Rally by Hamas Supporters
North of Jerusalem in the area of Judea and Samaria (called "The West Bank" by the geographical illiterate) is the town of Ramallah in which resides another fun loving group called the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) and also known as the Fatah Party. So what are they trying to liberate?
Here are some of the words from their Charter:
“Israel is a constant threat to peace in the Middle East and the entire world.
Since the liberation of Palestine will liquidate the Zionist and imperialist presence…
Article 22 Palestinian Charter
“Israel is a constant threat to peace in the Middle East and the entire world.
Since the liberation of Palestine will liquidate the Zionist and imperialist presence…
Article 22 Palestinian Charter
Introducing the prospective neighbors in the north country called Lebanon - another special group of motivated individuals! Hezbollah (which in Arabic means "Party of g-d") - simply put - party animals!
Hassam Nasrallah - leader of the Hezbollah - great personality and fun to be with!
Here are some of his favorite sayings:
1. “The Jews are a cancer which is liable to spread again at any moment.”
2. “There is no solution to the conflict except with the disappearance of Israel.”
3. “If they gather in Israel it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.”
This group is only half bad - they do not want to move in next door - they only want to destroy the Jewish people and the nation of Israel!
Here are some of his favorite sayings:
1. “The Jews are a cancer which is liable to spread again at any moment.”
2. “There is no solution to the conflict except with the disappearance of Israel.”
3. “If they gather in Israel it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.”
This group is only half bad - they do not want to move in next door - they only want to destroy the Jewish people and the nation of Israel!
Maybe he was having a bad day and did not really mean these words. Here is what the Hezbollah charter states:
“We vigorously condemn all plans for negotiation with Israel, and regard all negotiators as enemies, for the reason that such negotiation is nothing but the recognition of the legitimacy of the Zionist occupation of Palestine…”
NOT!!
“We vigorously condemn all plans for negotiation with Israel, and regard all negotiators as enemies, for the reason that such negotiation is nothing but the recognition of the legitimacy of the Zionist occupation of Palestine…”
NOT!!
"The greater the technological power, the greater the morality needed to withstand the temptation to use it."
Eliezer Schweid
The question of the day is this - if certain countries acquire nuclear capability will they also have the "morality" not to use it? Present day speeches from militant leaders in some of these countries seems to indicate that "no" is the answer.
Tzar Bomb - the most powerful nuclear weapon ever detonated. On 30 October 1961 the Soviet Union exploded this weapon which had a yield of 57 megatons
57 Megatons (Hiroshima 15 kilotons)
57,000,000 tons vs. 15,000 tons
Surface of fireball expands at 10’s of thousands of meters/sec
Diameter of the fireball shaft 5 miles
Seen from 900 miles
Mushroom cloud reached 210,000 feet
Shockwave broke windows 800 miles away
If the same weapon was released over Tel Aviv the circle would represent the
approximate area of complete destruction!
approximate area of complete destruction!
It needs to be remembered that this detonation is the "largest" ever and possession of this type of weapon is hopefully limited to some of the larger nuclear powers.
B61 Tactical Nuclear Bomb - USA
Yield - reported to be near 340 kilotons - keep in mind that Hiroshima was 15 kilotons
The "pit" or the explosive material is contained in the area "between" the red arrows. It could easily fit in the trunk of a small car!
Should Iran be allowed to develope these types of weapons in light of the fact that their leadership has announced their intention to engage in an all out war with the USA and Israel? Their goal being the complete destruction of Israel and the USA! Will they have the "morality" to not use this type of weapon? Considering the terrorist acts committed by radical Muslims in the last 20 years the answer must lean toward - YES! - they might use nuclear weapons if they have them!
The Land of Israel - Smaller than you think!
The Neighbors!
With the 2 state solution in place the airspace contraints of Israel become critical. The prospective Palestinian state is represented by the term "WEST BANK" in the picture. Distances are extremely small and very difficult to defend. Note the box - 70% of Israelis live on the coast and 80% of the industry is located in the same location!
The picture below demonstrates that defense from hostile aircraft will present critical problems. An enemy bomber can launch from east of Israel. The flight time from the Jordan Valley to the sea is just over 4 minutes. Israeli air defense fighters must be already airborne and in the approximate area to defend against such an attack. There is the capability of SAM's (surface to air missiles) but they can be electronically jammed and are not 100% successful. Enemy bombers can release their weapons miles before their assigned target!
Missiles could be easily fired at aircraft approaching or taking off from Ben-Gurion Airport.
Natural land barriers provide some protection from hostile ground forces. The next two pictures show that the "eastern border" of Israel is a very difficult place to launch a ground assault.
The city of Jerusalem is somewhat protected from ground assault due to the terrain that it is built upon.
If East Jerusalem is handed over to the Palestinians then small arms, snipers, mortars and rockets will be able to wreak death and destruction on the local population.
Although the north is somewhat protected by its terrain it also is the source of much of Israel's water supply in other parts of the country. The map below has the terrain features exaggerated to show comparisons of the different areas.
The Golan Heights and Mt. Hermon in the distance
Egypt which has been at peace with Israel for 30 years is now unstable. Recent elections show that a change in government will result in the Muslim Brotherhood owning a large portion of the government. Another group even more radical than the Muslim Brotherhood captured 18% of the vote. Israel's border which once protected her southern flank will now become a greater potential area of arms smuggling to the terrorists. Even today smuggling of arms is going on via the "Phildelphia Routes" depicted on the maps below.
Threats to Israel - Palestinian Rocket Attacks
26 Seconds - the difference between life and death!
The video above shows the use of a Qassam Rocket - which is much like a "pop-bottle rocket." After it is launched targeting is only approximate - where it lands can only be guessed! This is known as an "area weapon" that causes destruction but not in a specific target area.
The video below shows the use of "precision-guided weapons" which can be directed against specific targets resulting is minimal collateral damage to non-targeted areas. In this video is a helicopter using a laser range finder and target designator. The results are accurate and deadly.
The video below shows the use of "precision-guided weapons" which can be directed against specific targets resulting is minimal collateral damage to non-targeted areas. In this video is a helicopter using a laser range finder and target designator. The results are accurate and deadly.
Above - Qassam rocket launch from Lebanon
Iron Dome Missile Defense
Iranian Threats
Could Israel launch an air strike against Iranian nuclear facilities? Here are some considerations:
1. The distance to Iran is vast with overflight of hostile countries.
2. Any fighters and bombers would require in-flight refueling going and coming back.
3. In-flight refueling tanker assests would be exposed for long periods to possible hostile attack.
4. Any strike package would require numerous aircraft in order to insure success.
5. If the strike package was attacked and several aircraft were lost - Israel might have
degraded protection of the home land due to lose of defense resources.
1. The distance to Iran is vast with overflight of hostile countries.
2. Any fighters and bombers would require in-flight refueling going and coming back.
3. In-flight refueling tanker assests would be exposed for long periods to possible hostile attack.
4. Any strike package would require numerous aircraft in order to insure success.
5. If the strike package was attacked and several aircraft were lost - Israel might have
degraded protection of the home land due to lose of defense resources.
The red arrow in the picture below depicts the range from northern Israel to the west border of Iran - a distance of nearly 600 nautical miles.
