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Why the U.S. Approach Endangers Israeli Troops
(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - "The center of gravity is the civilian population and if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Saturday, referring to Israel's need to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza. His comments showcased how perceptually divorced the U.S. is from the actual reality on the ground. The Biden administration's support for Israel is commendable. Still, it appears that they are oblivious to the widespread support Hamas enjoys in Gaza and the solidarity the people there have with it. The U.S. assumes that Hamas imposed itself on Gaza's population and, if its grip on the population was removed, they would turn their backs on it. Yet recent public opinion polls indicate continued public support in Gaza for Hamas and its armed struggle against Israel. In its 17-year rule, Hamas has permeated the education system to spread its ideas and imbue public consciousness with its values. Israeli action won't lead the civilian population into the arms of the enemy; much of it is already there by choice. Humanitarian generosity will also not change the public's preferences. The main beneficiary of any aid will be Hamas. American expectations that Israel reduce the intensity of the fighting and increase humanitarian aid will only prolong the conflict and endanger the lives of our soldiers. It would be wiser to avoid imposing additional restrictions and allow the IDF to operate with high intensity until Hamas is toppled and its capabilities are eliminated. Dealing with the complex challenge of de-radicalization in Gaza will preoccupy the region for many years after the war. The writer, head of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem, served as Israel's national security advisor and head of the National Security Council.