40: That Magic Number

I heard it first on television and couldn't sign off before searching for a readable source.

Here it is:

According to 'special situation' orders given by the Homefront Command, schools have suspended their activities in all communities located within 40 km of the Gaza Strip until further notice.

Now, back in 1982, Menachem Begin went to war in Lebanon to assure that a strip of territory surrounding Israel's northern border would be cleared of Fatah terrorists firing Katyushas.

That strip was to be...yes, it was to be 40 kilometers from Israel's border.

Welcome to the Middle East.

Let's refresh your memories:

On 3 June 1982, the Abu Nidal Organization attempted to assassinate Israeli ambassador Shlomo Argov in London...Ariel Sharon and Menachem Begin, ordered a retaliatory aerial attack on PLO and PFLP targets in West Beirut that led to over 100 casualties.

The PLO responded by launching a counterattack from Lebanon with rockets and artillery, which also constituted a clear violation of the cease-fire. This was the immediate cause of Israel's subsequent decision to invade...Israel launched Operation Peace for Galilee on June 6, 1982, attacking PLO bases in Lebanon. Israeli forces quickly drove 25 miles (40 km) into Lebanon, moving into East Beirut with the tacit support of Maronite leaders and militia. When the Israeli cabinet convened to authorize the invasion, Sharon described it as a plan to advance 40 kilometers into Lebanon, demolish PLO strongholds, and establish an expanded security zone that would put northern Israel out of range of PLO rockets.

Does history repeat itself or just approximates itself?


P.S.

By midnight, Israel had over 350 incomings.