Haaretz: The Failed Attack on Doha Dispels the Illusion of Israel's Ability to Do as It Pleases

SadaNews - Israeli writer Amos Harel revealed that the survival of the leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) during the attack on them in the Qatari capital, Doha, and Qatar's efforts to take immediate actions against Israel confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has utterly failed to restore Israel's power and its deterrence capability.

The writer added - in his article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz - that Netanyahu does not like to hear the word "strategy," and he does not hide this even in his discussions with security leaders, where he is accustomed to showing his disdain for this term.

He confirmed that Netanyahu, throughout his political career, has set two main goals in his sights: preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb and thwarting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

However, everything changed since the start of his trial on corruption charges in 2020, as he has set a new top priority for himself, which is to remain Prime Minister at any cost, the writer explains.

Staying in Power

Harel continued that a number of foreign guests met Netanyahu following the attack on October 7, 2023, and were surprised to find themselves meeting a pale, frightened shadow of a man who fears being chased out of his home with stones and sticks due to his responsibility for not averting the attack despite security warnings.

He added that Netanyahu quickly recovered from that state and devised new tactics to stay in power, noting that immediately after the war with Iran, one of his close aides was quoted as saying that by the next elections, everyone in Israel would have forgotten the disaster of October 7.

Harel mentioned that after the failed assassination attempt on Hamas leaders in Doha, a spokesperson for Netanyahu mocked the criticism directed at the Prime Minister, stating that the critics are merely "insignificant adversaries who refuse to see the big picture: Netanyahu has restored Israel's power and deterrence, all our neighbors in the Middle East are watching with fear."

However, the paradox - Harel continues - is that it has become clear that things did not go as the Prime Minister's office had hoped, and that the image of Israel always being able to use force as it wishes without constraints has proven to be an illusion.

War and Chaos as Goals

He added that all of this shows that the war on Gaza should not have lasted until the near second anniversary of its outbreak, as Israel had numerous opportunities to end the war through an agreement that affirmed what it wants.

But Netanyahu has always chosen the opposite - Harel continues - because war and chaos serve his interests, ensuring him the stability of his government built on a non-sacred alliance with far-right parties in the Knesset.

On another level, the funeral for the martyrs of the unprecedented Israeli attack targeting residential buildings in Doha last Tuesday was held yesterday afternoon in the Qatari capital, with the participation of the Emir of the country, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Israel targeted residential buildings in Doha with missile strikes on Tuesday, where several members of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) reside, but the movement stated that its senior officials survived, while 5 of its members were martyred, including Hammam, the son of the movement's chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, and his office director Jihad Labbad, in addition to his companions Ahmad Mamlook, Abdullah Abdul Wahid, and Moamen Hassan.

State Terrorism

Also martyred in the attack was a member of the Qatari security forces, Corporal Badr Saad Mohammed Al-Humaidi Al-Dosari, from the ranks of the Qatari Internal Security Force.

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani stated: "I find no words to express how angry we are over this Israeli attack, which was state terrorism."

He explained that Netanyahu "is trying to give legal lectures, while he himself is violating international laws and starving Gaza," asserting that Netanyahu must be brought to justice, as he is already wanted by the International Criminal Court.

He noted that Netanyahu threatens other countries in the region, which do not pose any threat to him, emphasizing that there is a response from the region being discussed with partners, expressing hope that this response will be "real and capable of stopping Israel's bullying."

Source: Haaretz