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Israel's Strategic Alternatives after a Year of War

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Prof. Azar Gat - After the attacks by Hamas and Hizbullah, Israel faced an existential challenge and had to take all necessary measures to reverse the situation. There was no way to eliminate Hamas's massive deployment - deeply entrenched in the urban landscape from which thousands of missiles were fired at the civilian population in Israel - without causing enormous destruction. Anyone who claims that such destruction is unacceptable should provide other practical and convincing methods that would break Hamas's power in Gaza. Otherwise, they are effectively arguing that Hamas should have immunity from attack. Some people in the West seem to be effectively in favor of granting Hamas such immunity. The path to a ceasefire in the north that keeps Hizbullah away from the border and allows the evacuated Israelis to return home is far from clear. It is difficult to envision Hizbullah willingly accepting the humiliation of conceding to Israel's terms after suffering substantial losses. It is very doubtful that the diplomatic efforts now taking place to strengthen the Lebanese army and UNIFIL, and harden the stipulations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, will bear significant results. While the war is not over, the dreams of Israel's destruction, through the coordinated popular mobilization efforts of all the fanatical elements of the Iranian-sponsored "ring of fire," have largely been buried under the ruins of Gaza and Lebanon. The moderate Arab regimes are pleased with the downfall of Hizbullah and Iran's difficulties. Having regained its image of superior military capability, Israel is once again becoming a critical ally of the moderate Arab regimes against the Iranian threat. The writer holds the Chair of National Security at Tel Aviv University, and serves as an academic advisor to INSS.
2024-11-12 00:00:00
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