Watch part two

Israel has launched its deadliest operation against Gaza since it occupied the Strip more than 40 years ago - with continuous air strikes and mounting casualties.

More than 300 Palestinians - including many women and children - have been killed, with hundreds more injured.
 
The Israeli attacks began on Saturday, with no indication of how long they will last.

They have targeted a security compound, a mosque, a TV station, the largest university in the Strip, and the network of tunnels along the border with Egypt.

Those tunnels have been Gaza's only way to bring goods in from the outside world for the past three years, when Israel and the international community placed a siege on the Palestinian territory after the Islamic movement, Hamas, won the Palestinian elections of 2006.
 
Israel argues that the tunnels are also used to bring in weapons to strengthen Hamas. Tel Aviv also says it wants to end Hamas' ability to fire rockets into Israeli territory once and for all.

On Monday, Riz speaks to Mitchell Barak, an Israeli political consultant who has worked with the Likud party leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, and former prime minister Ariel Sharon. He is the founder of Keevoon Research Strategy and Communications in Jerusalem.

Riz also talks to Khalil Jahshan, a lecturer in international studies and languages at Pepperdine University. He is the former president of the National Association of Arab Americans.

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired on Monday, December 29, 2008.