 |
| Image: Mishpacha Magazine |
One of the things a lot of people on both the right and left have in common these days is criticism of Israel’s Prime Minister.
The right believes that Netanyahu’s decision to put the war against Hamas on hold and exchange thousands of Palestinians for the remaining hostages was a huge mistake. Maybe even of existential proportion. Many of those who are - and will be - released from Israeli prisons were convicted of terrorism or murder. They are the ones being exchanged for the return of hostages. They say that Netanyahu has undermined his own stated goal of defeating Hamas. Instead, Hamas seems unscathed as they march along in Gaza , waving flags, and declaring victory. Meanwhile Bibi’s folly has led to the tragic loss of a thousand Jewish soldiers, with nothing gained.
The left criticizes Netanyahu for waiting too long to agree to a deal that could have been reached back in May. Netanyahu’s conduct of the war has led European leaders to consider his actions in Gaza - genocide, including Israel’s reliably good friends in France and England. Pope Francis has suggested the same. Even the U.S. under Biden has kept criticizing Netanyahu to the point of withholding 2,000-pound bombs from Israel’s arsenal. Warnings about too many civilian casualties abound.
Then, there is all the antisemitism Bibi’s war in Gaza has unleashed by pursuing an unattainable goal which in reality was all about retaining power. So, what has Israel gained after all of this? Nothing, except becoming a pariah to the world - including to their erstwhile allies.
The war with Hamas has therefore been a failure, and the collateral damage to Israel’s reputation is incalculable. The rise of antisemitism around the world is unprecedented. Reminiscent of the Holocaust.
However, none of this is accurate. (Except for the antisemitism. More about that later.) The exact opposite is true. First, there was the ingenious way Israel destroyed Hezbollah and its leadership. The idea that Israel would have a much deadlier war with Hezbollah than with Hamas was proven false. Israel effectively demolished that myth in short order to the wonder of American military strategists.
It is also noteworthy that Biden officials have admitted that Israel was actually right in pursuing some of its war strategies, which they had originally strongly objected to. With implied threats of withholding more arms
The point that in fact - Israel achieved great victories in the war was clearly and succinctly made by Jonathan Rosenblum in a recent Mishpacha article:
"Hamas is far weaker today than it was then. Since May, Israel has eliminated Sinwar and much of Hamas’s senior military command. None of its original 24 battalions remain intact. And it can no longer maintain hope of being rescued by a posse of allies. Hezbollah has been thoroughly degraded; Syria is totally out of the picture; and Iran is highly vulnerable as a result of Israel destroying its air defenses."
As a consequence, Hamas has given up on a number of its previous demands. Those demands, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated numerous times, not Israeli reluctance, were the reason no deal was concluded earlier.
Finally, the staged nature of the deal means Netanyahu has retained a great deal of flexibility going forward, likely with the backing of the United States for whatever he chooses to do. Meanwhile, hostages are being released, Israel still has the big guns, and they are all pointed at Gaza, ready to resume the war should Israel need to, with the blessing of the U.S.
What about all the antisemitism around the world that the war dredged up?
As I have always said, Europe is a cesspool of antisemitism. It always has been, and apparently, it always will be. Aided and abetted by the most respected news organization in the world, the UK’s antisemitic BBC.
No surprises there. Leaders of Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, France, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, and even the UK have proven themselves to be no different from their antisemitic ancestors (with some notable exceptions. of course).
They want to accuse Israel of genocide? They don’t know the meaning of the word. Not even close.
Antisemitism? Sure. Bibi's fault? Not really. But in any case - if this is what defeat for Israel looks like, I’ll take it.
