I’m very disappointed in the Bush State Department for even backing a resolution calling for Israel to end its operations before the job is done. As Charles Krauthammer says, the only real solution in Gaza is the eradication of Hamas. Any “ceasefire” only bides Hamas time to rebuild and rearm, as history has shown with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Anyway, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza. Israel, knowing that its very existance is on the line, has rightfully told the UNSC to piss off. Of course, Hamas also rejected the the call from the UN, stating that the terror group would only accept an unconditional end to the blockade.

Israel’s government says it will press ahead with its offensive in the Gaza Strip despite a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office says the military “will continue acting to protect Israeli citizens and will carry out the missions it was given.”

The statement says Palestinian rocket fire Friday shows the Security Council’s call for a cease-fire “is not practical.”

Both sides say that they have their reasons for continuing the war.

Israel’s government says any cease-fire must guarantee an end to rocket fire and arms smuggling into Gaza. During a six-month cease-fire that ended with the current operation, Hamas is thought to have used tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border to smuggle in the medium-range rockets it is now using to hit deeper than ever inside Israel.

Hamas has said it won’t accept any agreement that does not include the full opening Gaza’s blockaded border crossings. Israel is unlikely to agree to that demand, as it would allow Hamas to strengthen its hold on the territory which it violently seized in June 2007.

I’m glad to see that Israel’s more interested in its own survival than calls from the United Nations to let-up on a group that continues to lob rockets into the country day by day. Writes Ed Morrissey:

As long as Hamas has power in Gaza, the Israelis can’t open the borders, and neither can Egypt.  As long as Hamas and Islamic Jihad rain fire down on Israel’s citizens, those citizens will rightfully demand that their government protect them from outside attack.  That’s the primary function of any government, and any state that fails to act under those conditions fails at statehood altogether.

The United Nations’ own schools in the region are being used to fire on the Israelis and their principals have been known to make bombs for the jihadists. As long as the UN is unwilling to do anything of worth to stop or even confront Hamas, it should just let Israel finish the job.