Due to Palestinian Islamic Jihad's threat to attack areas in Israel's southern region, the decision to launch Operation Breaking Dawn in Gaza earlier this month was unavoidable.

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The operation was intended to thwart PIJ terrorism, exact a price for the attempt to attack Israel, deter the terror group from doing so in the future and damage the its military capabilities. Other goals were to keep Hamas from joining the fight and to foster division among Gaza's terror factions.

The IDF enjoyed several successes due to its proactive stance, which focused on achieving quality objectives. In this context, the military often uses two techniques: a "staggered" attack, in which it gradually raises the quality of the targets it strikes, and an "inverted-staggered" attack, in which it launches numerous immediate attacks on quality targets, such as eliminating senior terrorists and demolishing high-rise buildings.

Operation Breaking Dawn saw the IDF follow the second strategy, attacking high-quality targets for the first two days. This was unusual compared to past operations and made possible by the conflict's brief duration. Along with taking out PIJ's northern commander Tayseer Jabari at the start of the operation, the IDF successfully stopped anti-tank launcher teams that the PIJ had deployed on the border. PIJ's southern commander Khaled Mansour and his deputy Hitab Amasi were eliminated the following day. Rafat Saleh, commander of PIJ's rocket system, was also killed. In addition, a PIJ-affiliated terror tunnel was demolished.

However, the IDF considerably lessened the intensity of its attacks on the third and final day of the operation, concentrating on attempts to take out rocket launchers and the terrorists operating them. It probably shouldn't have done so. A full-on assault throughout would have been more effective.

The IDF raised the percentage of rockets intercepted from Gaza by the Iron Dome defense system. Iron Dome had a 97% success rate – a new record. The key reason for this was upgrades to the algorithms employed by the defense system, as well as improvements in its control system, radar and interceptor missiles.

Israel also scored a media victory. Through cooperation between the Air Force, the Shin Bet, the IDF spokesperson and the Public Diplomacy Directorate, it was able to avoid a major international media crisis in the aftermath of the Jabalia incident, in which six children were killed and dozens injured.

The joint effort quickly proved via visual evidence that the deaths were caused by a failed PIJ rocket launch. Later, more footage of unsuccessful rocket launches that injured unarmed Gazans was made public. Due to Israel's prompt and effective response to the incident, the international press was reluctant to blame the IDF for the tragedy.

Operation Breaking Dawn dealt a severe blow to the PIJ's terrorist capabilities by the elimination of its senior leadership. This has sown confusion in the ranks and created a leadership vacuum that will take time to fill. "Succession wars" within the organization are now a possibility.

The operation is expected to strengthen Israeli deterrence against the PIJ in the Gaza Strip, and Judea and Samaria. It will also likely do so against Hamas. Israel's decision to launch a preemptive military operation due to threats to Israeli targets, rather than as a response to an actual attack, made it appear unpredictable and difficult to anticipate strategically. Moreover, the successful elimination of the PIJ leadership signals to senior Hamas officials that they may be next in line. The improvements to Iron Dome also showed Hamas that its missile capabilities are now substantially less effective.

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Breaking Dawn may strengthen Israel's deterrence against Hezbollah as well. The Iran-backed terrorist organization has been threatening in recent months to attack Israel if it produces gas from the Karish gas field reservoir before Israel and Lebanon reach an agreement on maritime borders. After the campaign, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah may think twice before commencing hostilities.

Israel's decision to wind down the operation after three days may have been a mistake, however. It is true that by continuing the operation, there was a chance that Hamas might join the fighting. However, it is also plausible that Hamas would have continued to refrain from action as long as Israel concentrated solely on PIJ targets. Hamas is not interested in a confrontation with Israel at this time and prefers to focus on enhancing its military capabilities, stabilizing the economic situation and consolidating its control over Gaza.

The PIJ did make a few gains despite suffering severe damage. It was able to maintain a continuous rate of fire throughout, including after a truce was declared, despite the IDF's powerful attacks. They also increased their rate of fire over previous operations.

This has the potential to improve the image of PIJ in Gaza, making it appear to be the most prominent "resistance force," thus diminishing Hamas. Therefore, Israel should assert that Hamas remains the sovereign in the Gaza Strip, is responsible for any violent actions emanating from it, and is obligated to prevent terrorist organizations from launching attacks.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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For Chad, defense is the most important element of relations with Israel. In recent years, it has been dealing with the radical Islamist terrorist threats posed by Boko Haram in Nigeria and groups linked to the Islamic State group.

Despite the end to its civil war and reduced tensions with Sudan, Chad is still battling rebels in its north. According to foreign reports, Israel has already aided Chad in this fight. Like most African countries that have strengthened ties with Israel, Chad – a poor desert nation – is also interested in Israel's advanced water and agricultural technology, particularly when it comes to Lake Chad, which has been shrinking since 1960 and is in danger of drying up entirely. Today, the lake comprises only 5% of its original area.

Chad's decision to renew ties was influenced by Israel's flourishing diplomatic relations with moderate Sunni countries. Chad doesn't want to be left behind and probably wants to take advantage of Israel's close ties with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. But while it is cooperating with the U.S. on fighting terrorism, the Americans are keeping their distance from the African country. In September 2017, the administration included Chad on a list of countries whose residents are barred from visiting the U.S.

Israel's renewed ties with Chad are the fruit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign policy of the last decade: "Israel is returning to Africa, and Africa is returning to Israel." Netanyahu has elected to approach Africa in an attempt to change the traditionally hostile stance of the African nations toward Israel in international forums, as well as a response to Iranian attempts to gain a foothold on the continent.

In the past two and a half years, Netanyahu has visited Africa three times, including a historic visit to Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Liberia in June 2017. During that visit, Netanyahu became the first non-African leader to address the Economic Community of West African States, a third of whose members are Muslim states. In July 2016, Israel renewed ties with Guinea. A year later, Netanyahu and the president of Mali – a Muslim country – agreed to closer bilateral relations.

Israel also benefits from stronger ties with Chad. Chad officially recognizing the renewal of relations with Israel will contribute to Jerusalem's growing ties with Sunni Muslim states. Another advantage lies in Chad's presidency of the African Union (until recently Déby served as head of the African Union), a role that gives it prestige and political power and could help bring Israel into the organization as an observer nation.

When it comes to intelligence, Israel can also benefit from the role Chad plays in the peacekeeping forces in Africa and its military action against radical Islam. The renewed ties could also help check Iran's presence and influence on the continent.

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