Netanyahu must end his futile campaign in Gaza, and Biden must make him do it | The Hill
Category: News & Politics
Via: kavika • 11 months ago • 0 commentsBy: Amos Guiora, Opinion Contributor (The Hill)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
by Amos Guiora, Opinion Contributor - 01/02/24 10:30 AM ET
by Amos Guiora, Opinion Contributor - 01/02/24 10:30 AM ET
FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv, Israel on Oct. 18, 2023. More than two weeks after Hamas' attack, many Israelis are furious at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, not just for failing to prevent the initial attack, but for failing to come to their aid afterward. While the military is bombing Gaza and preparing a possible invasion, Israeli government infighting and the erosion of the civil service have left traumatized survivors to mourn on their own. (Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP, File)
As an Israeli American living outside Jerusalem; as someone who served for 20 years in the Israel Defense Forces, including five years in the Gaza Strip; and as a father whose son is presently serving, I have "skin" in the game of the latest Israel-Hamas war.
And I believe that Israel's campaign in Gaza must be ended now.
The reason this war began is clear. Hamas is responsible for committing Holocaust-like crimes on Oct. 7. However, the unimaginable horrors for which Hamas must be held responsible do not minimize the culpability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government for events leading up to Oct. 7, which created the conditions for the attack.
The same holds true for the weak-kneed, spineless, amoral, enabling cowards who surround, and protect him, who directly contributed to decisions that facilitated Oct. 7.
The government now owes it to the Israeli hostages held by Hamas to end the conflict immediately.
Netanyahu's government places that obligation at the bottom of its priority list, far below Netanyahu's political survival. But there is one person who could pick up the phone this moment and make Netanyahu see reason — President Biden.
Biden must speak personally and directly to Netanyahu, using as many one-syllable words as possible. He has every reason to do so. The U.S. has far more important regional issues to address, posing significantly greater challenges to U.S. interests than what happens in the Gaza Strip. This includes, among other things, the threat to global shipping posed by the Houthi rebels.
For that reason, President Biden must work with Egypt, the Emirates and Qatar, bringing the parties together to impose an immediate cease-fire and return of all remaining hostages.
Having been involved in Track Two discussions with Palestinians from the West Bank for several years, I believe firmly that the parties at the table cannot include Hamas. There can be no progress unless Hamas is excluded. There must be consequences for its murderous actions.
Rather, Palestinians must be represented by someone who understands that the horrors of Oct. 7 significantly harmed Gazans and the Gaza Strip, and can never be repeated. One need only look at the pictures of the devastation and listen to ordinary Palestinians' voices to understand that this is so.
One way to accomplish this might be to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza with a promise that they will not be Israeli targets in the future. Note that this option is not at all far-fetched — in fact, it is already reportedly under consideration.
Rebuilding Gaza will require enormous resources, creative thinking, hard decisions, calculated risks and hard negotiations. There will be anger, resentment, yelling, theatrics, table pounding, genuine pain and grievance. Fair enough. There is, however, no option but to immediately end this destructive Gaza campaign, which has no clear endgame and no exit strategy.
The fantasy of defeating Hamas is just that — a fantasy. That is something Biden must impress upon Netanyahu. Otherwise, soldiers, innocent civilians and the remaining hostages are all guaranteed to die.
Amos N. Guiora is professor of law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law,University of Utah.He served for 20 years in the Israel Defense Forces Judge Advocate General Corps. He is involved with the Bystander Initiative.
Tags Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Hamas Israel Joe Biden
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