Comment: Israel, U.S. far apart on vision for a post-war Gaza
By Daniel DePetris / For the Chicago Tribune
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in an unenviable position. Having been caught flat-footed by the worst terrorist attack in Israels history, his approval rating remains in the gutter.
Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, stretching into its fifth month, and the terrible, some would say indiscriminate, damage the fighting has done to the 2 million Palestinians who live there have sullied Israels international reputation. Hamas military brigades have been dealt a blow, but Netanyahus insistence on total victory sounds as if he genuinely believes the organization is like a conventional army that can be wiped out.
The war is also forcing Netanyahu to engage in a difficult balancing act. On one side is President Bidens administration, by far Israels closest ally. On the other is Netanyahus governing coalition, stacked with far-right, ultranationalist ministers who dont care about the Palestinians one iota, would rather toss the so-called two-state concept into the ash heap of history and wouldnt mind pushing Palestinians in Gaza across the border into Egypt. Netanyahu cant satisfy one without disappointing the other, which is why he has stonewalled calls for postwar plans in Gaza.
That is, until last week. After months of prodding from U.S. officials, Netanyahu finally released a rough outline on how he envisions Gazas future after the war. The document is less of a plan and more of a wish list of unworkable items meant to ensure that the most unflappable, hardheaded extremists in his Cabinet, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister, dont bolt from the government. In the contest between the U.S. and the Ben-Gvirs of the world, the Americans have lost.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-israel-u-s-far-apart-on-vision-for-a-post-war-gaza/