Empty threats lose effectiveness

Israel has been talking a lot about a major Gaza operation over the past few days. [This tough talk may have helped Kadima in the most recent polls.] Yet as we have seen, the Israeli leaders have a history of freely talking about doing something about Gaza and being very reluctant to actually do anything.

This all-talk, no action posturing has had its effects on the Palestinian Arab public as well. An on-line poll at Ma'an Arabic asks whether the current Israeli threats to invade Gaza next week are a bluff ("psychological war" or real. At the moment, 53% say it is bluff while only 43% are taking it seriously.

A couple of years of empty threats does make it hard to take them seriously.