Most of us should have been aware that when the group known as Hamas (aka: the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood) took power in Gaza as the political leadership of the Palestinians Israel would be very anxious. After all, this is the group they have essentially been at war with in the strip for the last 20 years.

Palestinian militants, often associated with Hamas, conduct terrorist strikes on Israel population centers and military patrols and checkpoints. Israel retaliates with bombing runs and incursions into Palestinian territory.

The Israelis also realized that Hamas, as part of its convenient, would not accept political negotiations and/or treaties that still maintained the existence of Israel as a state in what Hamas considered the Palestinian lands.

“Article 13: There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with.”

Other elements were also at work in Israel (i.e. the PLO), but with the death of Yasser Arafat, many in and outside of Israel were optimistic that the days of open violence between the Israel and militant Palestinian factions were over. However, elections to fill the political void behind Arafat soon turned sour to many Israelis as the Iranian supported group Hamas took over political power, and became a legitimate political party.

While world insisted that Israel give Hamas a chance, and continue with their withdrawal plans, many inside the Israeli government continued to express their concern that Hamas would not be able to effectively run the government, and that the PLA under their leadership, and without Israeli military support would not be able to enforce peaceful relations between the two peoples.

Now, after the subsequent capture and hostage scenario of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapping and then execution of an 18 year old Jewish settler, all while militants mock Israel over their capture of the soldier, Israel begins in earnest its military campaign against the west bank.

They’ve launched missiles into Gaza, rolled into Palestinian settlements with tanks, and now even arrested up to 64 parliamentary members of the ruling Hamas political structure. Israel is poised to strike at Palestine and strike hard. The motives behind this action are suspect by many:

(REUTERS) "The issue was not about the missing soldier but it is a pre-planned plot to destroy the Authority, the government and the parliament and to bring the Palestinian people to their knees," Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri said.

While Mr. Masri may very well be right, what is not recognizing is that the militant factions of Hamas and other Palestinian orginizations are playing right into the hands of the conservatives in the Israel’s government.

(AP) Government spokesman Asaf Shariv said Asheri's killers would be arrested, and Israel would try to bring them to trial.

"Their days as free people are numbered," Shariv said.

He may have been speaking of more than just these specific militants as the battle drums are beginning to beat louder in Gaza. (REUTERS)

In an implied threat to Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and his Syrian host, Israeli warplanes buzzed one of President Bashar al-Assad's palaces on Wednesday. A Syrian official said the air force fired at the planes.

Preparing for an offensive in north Gaza, a region used by militants to launch rockets at Israel, Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets urging residents to avoid areas troops may target.