"...Since 1970, Israel has faced 80 significant maritime attacks. Interdicting weapons destined for terrorists requires constant vigilance: A few years back, a single vessel, the Karine-A, had 50 tons of arms and explosives on board. Originating in the Persian Gulf, that shipment was addressed to Fatah, the Palestinian "good guys." (And, of course, when Israel stops a smuggler on the high seas, the United Nations treats it as an act of piracy.)
Israel's navy has to be on watch 24 hours a day, every day of the year. And then it goes to war with the rest of the Israeli Defense Forces.
The navy deserved better coverage than it got during the Lebanon fighting. Beyond the missile hit on the command ship, the service turned in a spunky, effective performance, enforcing a blockade in cooperation with the air force and landing SEALs behind the lines.
One successful commando raid on Tyre saved dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Lebanese lives by going ashore to take out Hezbollah rocket commanders - instead of simply bombing the crowded apartment block where the terrorists had set up shop on the second floor.
The navy also destroyed Hezbollah rocket launchers on shore and provided intelligence to the other services. It was the only IDF arm that delivered more than it promised.
Now there's a cease-fire. For the Israeli navy, that just means going back to an average of 11 missions a day and protecting Israel's lifeline to the world."
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