Benjamin Netanyahu is the obstacle to peace in the Near East
Benjamin Netanyahu has a strong base like Donald Trump. Photo: Netanyahu rally in Tel Aviv in 2019 Oren Ziv - photograph
Benjamin Netanyahu does not suffer fools gladly. He cut his teeth at MIT and Harvard, studying architecture while earning a Masters degree along the way. So, Bibby, no doubt has a fondness for American soft power and respect for American hard power. As Israeli leader he and his governments must rely on the U.S. support to challenge those state actors that may be harbouring ill will towards the Israeli state. October 7 2023 saw Israel hammered like never before in statehood. Surely, Netanyahu was personally destroyed that this attack, planned for many years as Hamas operatives dug a labyrinth of tunnels right into Israel under Mossad and IDF intelligence without causing a stir. Call that over confidence or GroupThink among Netanyahu'd cabinet, but, make no mistake, with Israel forces in conflict with Palestine, historically, ten Palestinians die for everyJewish war death. In this recent conflict, which began with 1195 Israeli deaths while the AP reports on June 13 2024 that 55,000 Palestinians - mostly Gazans- have been killed in the conflict.
Netanyahu's goals include the "voluntary emigration" of the Gaza population. By the Fall of 2024 1.9 million of the 2.1 million Gazans were displaced according to Middle East scholar -Scott Lucas. Netanyahu curry favoured to a Trump ceasefire in stage one, however, that is where he drew the line. Netanyahu cannot maintain control of his far - right ministers that want to see Gaza obliterated, and why not- Israel has an overbearing appetite for Palestinian land. Sure, Israeli officials want to see Hamas annihilated and October 7 has created the perfect storm to swallow Palestine whole.
Despite sanctions by European leaders and a warrant by the ICC for Netanyahu's arrest, it remans business as usual - sort of - until the June 12 attacks on Iranian nuclear sites by Israeli missiles. Iran is countering right now with a barrage of drone attacks inside Israel while threatening Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu's political goal, like most, is survival and at 76 years of age, will seek a legacy that transforms the Near East into an Israeli stronghold, indefinitely. Israel and the U.S. must contend with a backlash from Hezbollah, Iranian Shia Muslims (at least 9/10), Yemeni Houthi's and pressure from disgruntled factions within Saudi Arabia, the Arab community and diaspora, who are protesting vehemently. Rumour has it that Islamic State is making a comeback in Iraq- a massive headache for the Trump administration, that is guilty of subterfuge regarding tariffs that is roiling the markets and allies. Even Egypt and Jordan have their limits.
