WSJ: All You Need to Know About Israel's War With Hamas in Gaza

Since 2005, Hamas and its terrorist allies have launched more than 6300 rockets and shells at Israel from Gaza. Following expiration on December 19 of a six-month so-called truce (during which rocket attacks decreased, but never stopped), Hamas fired some 300 rockets into Israel. This week Israel finally struck back in force, in an air and land battle that continues as I write.

The sensible voices at the Wall Street Journal editorial page today published two essential columns, which together explain all that one needs to know to understand the current fighting and its stakes for peace in the Middle East. The first is an unsigned staff editorial, entitled, "Israel's Gaza Defense: The More Damage to Hamas, the Better Chance for Peace." The second, by Michael Oren and Yossi Klein Halevi, from the Shalem Center in Israel, is called "Palestinians Need Israel to Win; if Hamas Gets Away With Terror Again, the Peace Process Will be Over." Please read them both.