Contradictory Israeli Narratives to the Official Stance

Author: أنطوان شلحت

Despite the insistence of the political establishment in Israel that the war on Gaza is progressing in a direction that achieves its goals, there is a strong counterpoint to this insistence in various Israeli military and political analyses. It is no longer a secret, as reported in Israeli media, that there are disagreements between the political and military institutions, as manifested, for example, in everything related to the current ground incursion in Gaza City aimed at occupying the city. Some noted that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, General Eyal Zamir, "argued" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over this incursion until the last moment, continuing to pressure, in vain, for a new prisoner exchange deal.

 

Focusing on the views of those described as specialists in Palestinian affairs, their rejection of the official Israeli narrative is not only related to the events of the war on Gaza and its outcomes, but also extends to anticipating what might result from it, as well as what actions Israel might take in response to the increasing global recognition of the Palestinian state. This necessitates a quick pause.

First, regarding the latest Israeli military movements within the framework of the war on Gaza, most of these specialists affirm that the goal of eliminating Hamas is unrealistic, and that the conflict with it is endless. As one of them wrote literally (the Orientalist Eyal Zisser): no surrender from "Hamas" will come, and no white flag will be raised. There are no vague slogans that can be executed; what is needed are clear and specific goals.

On the political level, the approach of most of these specialists, fundamentally, can be summarized as follows: The "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" has caused the collapse of the most important foundation of the concept that Israel had adopted regarding the Palestinian issue, which Netanyahu has been trying to solidify, based on the belief that there are vast open possibilities for normalizing relations with the Arab world, without settling the Palestinian issue, considering that the world is no longer interested in the Palestinians. Thus, there is no need for decisive decisions; it is sufficient to "manage the conflict" and seek "economic peace" as the ultimate goal.

Another Israeli Orientalist (Michael Milstein) chose to focus on what is happening in the West Bank, indicating that the annexation of the West Bank is being realized, even without an official announcement. In his estimation, it will escalate with the recognition of more countries of the Palestinian state. Among what he revealed, and which is now circulating, is that the Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who is also the second minister in the security ministry and responsible for settlements in the West Bank, has been repeating that there is a need to "change the DNA of the West Bank" to reach what he described as the "point of no return that will not allow for the separation between the two peoples," meaning it will not allow the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

This informed Orientalist revealed that a detailed action plan has recently been proposed to achieve this vision, in line with the "decisive plan" published by Smotrich in 2017, which stipulates: annexing 82% of the West Bank (including Qalqilya and Bethlehem), and creating Palestinian enclaves resembling the "bantustans" established by the apartheid regime in South Africa.

It may be important to note finally that the vast majority of these specialists, along with several political analysts, believe that a more stringent reaction from the Arab world could be influential. And if such an impact is not feasible regarding Netanyahu, pressure should be directed towards the American president, Donald Trump, who seems to be the only one capable of halting the Israeli government. He was the one who forced the freezing of the annexation plan in 2020 in exchange for the "Abraham Accords," he imposed the signing of the previous ceasefire agreement, and he is the one allowing the war to continue currently, with no indications that he is exerting pressure on Israel either in Gaza or in the West Bank.