Netanyahu’s Endless War Strategy: A Critique of US Policy and Plans for Lebanon

Written by Elijah J. Magnier:

After over a hundred days of absence from the local press, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a speech whose contents were easy to predict. He called for “absolute victory” and the continuation of the war, but he also attacked America in his way, criticising himself and pointing to the possibility of a war similar to the one in Gaza, but this time in Lebanon.

The Israeli Prime Minister exclusively leads the outcome of the ongoing negotiations in Cairo and Doha alone and does not delegate any decision-making authority to the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet. Instead, they must return to him for any final decision related to the negotiations with Hamas. Mossad Director David Barnea, head of the negotiating delegation, believes that Israel has the right to resume fighting in Gaza only if Hamas does not adhere to the agreement. It is a realistic formula that can be achieved, contrary to Netanyahu’s stipulation that he can return to Gaza with his army whenever he sees fit, even if Hamas respects the deal once agreed by all parties.

All that Netanyahu is asking for at present is more time to allow the army to achieve a tactical victory for him, such as assassinating the head of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Al-Sinwar, or Muhammad Al-Deif, the military commander of the Al-Qassam Wing. Although non-state actors are not weakened in their leadership when top leaders are assassinated, Netanyahu needs a propaganda victory to convince the Israeli public of some achievement beyond the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and the killing and wounding of over 110,000 Palestinians, mainly civilians.

Netanyahu said he wants to continue fighting until “every Hamas member is killed, from the youngest to the oldest, because their fate is death,” as a primary goal in his battle over Gaza, as stated. This means that the negotiations do not concern him because they involve a permanent or sustainable ceasefire, not the indefinite continuation of the war as the Israeli Prime Minister desires. Therefore, the negotiations became meaningless because Netanyahu did not commit to any clause ending the war.