Netanyahu Brags About a War on Lebanon While Fearing a War on Israel.

Written by Elijah J. Magnier 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu possesses several strategies to maintain his grip on power, provided the street protests against him remain controlled and not numerous enough to pose a severe threat. The opposition’s representation in the Knesset is insufficient to challenge his position or force early elections to oust him. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s allies in the government are also exerting pressure, threatening to bring down the government if he stops the war or withdraws occupation forces from the Nitzarim (dividing Gaza into two parts) and Philadelphia (on the borders with Egypt) corridors.

Continuing the conflict in Gaza, given the resistance’s determined resilience yet limited capabilities, remains the most straightforward option for Netanyahu. Despite significant losses for the Israeli army, the Palestinian resistance does not seriously endanger Israel’s home front. This allows Netanyahu to leverage the ongoing conflict to his advantage, maintaining a semblance of control and stability in his leadership.

Netanyahu permits himself to sabotage the negotiation with the Palestinian resistance, but this luxurious behaviour is unavailable for the northern front with Hezbollah. The situation on the Lebanese front, however, is akin to a dangerous hornet’s nest, capable of inflicting severe damage on the Israeli military and domestic front should a full-scale war erupt. Netanyahu is astute enough to avoid the political folly of initiating a war with Lebanon, the outcomes and consequences of which are unpredictable. Despite his aggressive posturing, the current climate and data do not suggest Israel intends to escalate the situation with Lebanon, even on a limited scale.