Israeli officials say they are considering plans for the future government of Gaza after their tanks have invaded and carried out their stated plan of “eliminating Hamas” .
Other governments including Israel’s western allies are urging caution and some diplomats are warning it not to make the same mistake as the US-led alliances after the defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
In both of those conflicts, western armies, backed by fierce bombardment from the air, were relatively easily able to take territory. Governing it safely was another matter.
