This week it finally happened. After multiple rumors and threats, the American government decided to delay weapon shipments to Israel, with as main reason given, the entry of the IDF into Rafiah, an escalation of the Gaza war that Biden and his government have vigorously opposed multiple times.
Rafiah is the southernmost city in Gaza and at this time overflowing with an estimated million and a half refugees who were ordered by Israel to move south from the northern regions of the strip. Only a couple of months ago. The main reason the United States opposes the entry of the Israeli army into Rafiah is the fear that many civilians will be caught in the crossfire, significantly increasing the already unbelievable number of civilian deaths.
In Israel, Rafiah has been viewed as the last step in the total eradication of Hamas and the entry into the city was seen as necessary to destroy the final military units of the Terror organization and (hopefully) catch its leader Sinwar.
But even after seven months of war, during which Israel supposedly conquered the central and northern Gaza strip, only this week extra troops were mobilized to prevent the return of Hamas to the north, and the reestablishment of its civilian power. More and more voices within Israel’s defense establishment admit that the complete eradication of Hamas from the Gaza strip is an impossible goal and the main effort should now go to the release of the hostages, who have been in Gaza for the whole time of this war.
So why is the Israeli leadership still insisting that Hamas must be completely destroyed? The military, with Gallant in front, why do they insist to continue this war which already cost the lives of more than seven hundred soldiers. Are they afraid to become known in history as the Defense minister and generals that have lost the most devastating war Israel has known? Or are they simply kowtowing to the orders they receive from the country’s leadership, in particular Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has for months declared that the war has two major goals, destroying Hamas and release of the hostages. As far as the hostages are concerned, he and his government have failed miserably. The number of hostages still alive is unclear and almost daily, we are confronted with the death of yet another hostage. Netanyahu has refused to come to terms with the demands made by Hamas (and also the “mediators”, Qatar and Egypt) even though he surely understands by now that the demands are not negotiable also because they are, in the end, unavoidable. So, Netanyahu, once called, “Mr. Security” doesn’t understand this?
The government partners of Netanyahu also understand that the hostages are in an impossible situation and the chances of releasing them mostly depend on what Israel is willing to do. But these fascist extremists have more than once expressed the opinion that the hostages are less important than winning the war, and they have sufficient power in the current government, that they will drop out if a decision is made to stop the Rafiah offensive, causing the government to fall. And this is the major issue in this war today. Not if Israel can win this war. Not if Israel can release the hostages. Not the deteriorating standing of Israel worldwide. The only reason this government made the decision to neglect the hostage crisis and to continue the war effort in Rafiah, is to remain in power, which is the only interest that guides Netanyahu. So Mr. Security may believe that this war cannot be won (and if he analyzed the situation as he should have, he will have come to this conclusion) but he will continue it because he needs to remain in power, no matter what.
And what about the other members of the government, and of the “War Cabinet”? Where are Gantz and Eisenkot? Why do they not open their mouth and stop Netanyahu from sending more of our youngsters to their death? Do they also believe that their political future depends on a “Total Victory” in this war? It is clear that they intend to remain in the government, no matter what Netanyahu decides and the Rafiah operation will continue.
The haughty talks by them (as well as the Defense Minister) that Israel will continue the war even if it has to be on her own, is no more than lies being told for the ear of the public. Most of the weapons and ammunition is coming from the United States and if Biden follows up on his initial moves, the war will have to be fought, in the words of Netanyahu, with “Tooth and Nails”, because bullets we won’t have anymore.
This absurd situation reminds of the Sinai incursion in 1956, which was an endeavor by Great Britain France and Israel without the knowledge of the United States. But the American President, Dwight Eisenhower was not pleased and threatened both France and England as well as Israel. The French and the Brits understood quickly and they withdrew, but Israel required more serious threats by the Americans to become convinced that it was not worth their while. At the time the Israeli leadership did understand that Eisenhower was not joking and Ben-Gurion was intelligent enough to know when he lost, and withdrew the troops from Sinai. Probably Biden will need to come up with more serious threats even though Netanyahu surely already understands the consequences. But he wants to remain in power, so nothing else matters.
I hope you found this article interesting and I welcome any comments you may have.
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