Israel Goes on the Offensive

For the third time in five days, Israeli forces have targeted Hamas leaders. It's increasingly obvious that the bus bombing ended Israel's cease fire--at least with Hamas--in the government's eyes.

But this focused offensive is sending another political message as well: Israel still open to diplomacy, still open to peaceful options, but will not tolerate attacks. A response like this might bring some nasty press coverage world wide, but the response is much more surgical and nuanced than people seem to have noticed.

Like everyone else, I think peace is a long way off and damned near impossible, but these measured responses are not, in themselves, a repudiation of that process. In fact, it's an odd support of the process; when a Hamas militant bombed that bus last week, it was a declaration that the organization wanted nothing to do with the peace process. They are being treated accordingly.

Read about the latest Israeli response.