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Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-820417
Why a Hamas Hostage Deal Won't Bring Peace
(Jerusalem Post) Lt.-Col. (ret.) Sarit Zehavi - The hostage deal proposal being promoted by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar does not promise long-term de-escalation in the Middle East. Sadly, the deal would not even lead to the release of all Israeli hostages. Iran and its allies will not abandon their goals, while providing an opportunity for Hamas and Hizbullah to regroup and recover. It's essential to recognize that this is not just another chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Iran is spearheading a much broader regional campaign to encircle Israel with hostile forces. The whole campaign has shifted toward a war of attrition against Israel on various fronts. Israel cannot afford to face Iran and its proxies alone. Strong coordination with the U.S. and other Western allies is essential to confronting both the immediate threats posed by terrorist groups and the longer-term challenge of Iran's regional ambitions and nuclear threat. After the massacre of Oct. 7, Israel cannot afford to live under the constant threat of terrorism on its borders. The international community, for its part, cannot afford to see the Iranian radical axis spread its dark and fanatical vision across the Middle East, and beyond. The writer is founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center, which specializes in Israel's security challenges on its northern borders.