Israel War: What’s Next?
Israel’s war against Hamas is entering a new phase — but with no clear end in sight. For that, blame Hamas. The terror cadre still holds scores of hostages — and just published sadistic videos playing literal games with their lives — and hides its men and arms in hospitals, schools and a massive tunnel network.
Yet Hamas’ evil doesn’t blunt the hard questions now confronting the Jewish state.
Yes, the tempo of the IDF operation in Gaza is slowing as Israel focuses more on rooting out Hamas leadership and infrastructure.
That’s not a response to President Biden’s slanderous whining about “indiscriminate” bombing — it’s a strategic and tactical necessity, and a recognition of economic reality: Israel can’t function forever with so many of its of military-age people called up to active duty.
Yet as the Gaza operation grows more focused, the threat of Hezbollah looms in the north. If Israel dares to defend itself from Iran’s minions on that front, will Biden & Co. opt to give in to their own party’s extremists, and cut off support for Jerusalem?
One bad sign: Washington’s clearly calculated leak to the press of an intel report outlining fears the IDF can’t handle a two-front conflict. Another: the talks, overseen by senior Biden adviser Amos Hochstein, that seem ultimately aimed at getting Israel to compromise on its northern security for Hezbollah promises of peace.
Never mind that Benjamin Netanyahu’s erstwhile opponent Benny Gantz and other leaders still in the opposition also see the need for a military solution, should diplomacy (the Netanyhu government’s preferred approach to Lebanon) fail.
And should open war with Lebanon be averted and the military phase of Israel’s Gaza operation conclude successfully, that leaves the Jewish state no closer to answering what may be the most pressing question it faces. Namely: Who will govern Gaza?
All the likely players — the United Nations, the Palestinian Authority — are disqualified by their deep sympathy to Hamas. And Israel itself has no interest in the job.
In other words, even stunning success on all fronts leaves Israel facing chaos and uncertainty, as Biden tries ever harder to empower Iran. With friends like that . . .