Netanyahu’s cherished dream has now turned into a nightmare

Last Updated on October 6, 2024 3:40 am

It should have been a joyous moment for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 40 long years of work is finally coming to fruition. He is moving towards destroying all the so-called ‘terrorist states’ in the Middle East.

Netanyahu has followed a strategy for more than 40 years. Which he highlighted in his book ‘Terrorism: How the West Can Win’ written in 1986. This book currently costs around $187 on Amazon UK.

In the book, Netanyahu defines terrorism as ‘a planned and organized process to achieve political goals by killing, injuring and terrorizing innocent people’. It basically describes the activities that Israel has been doing in the besieged Gaza for the past year and now in Lebanon.

The mainstay of Netanyahu’s counter-terrorism theory is the use of force. In a congressional hearing on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq in 2002, he explained, ‘If you overthrow Saddam, I guarantee you, there will be a wave of positive change throughout the region’.

But Congressman John Tierney questioned Netanyahu’s belief that a shift in power would bring peace and stability to the Middle East. He asked, ‘Is this just your guess, or do you have any evidence?’

Persisting on such questions, Netanyahu said, ‘In 1986, I faced the same question. I wrote a book saying that the way to deal with terrorist regimes is to use military force against them.

Tierney countered, “Just like we did in Afghanistan?”

Netanyahu’s reply was, ‘We saw something different. First, we saw everyone fleeing Afghanistan. Second, we’ve seen many Arab countries, Muslim countries turning to America, trying to maintain relations with them.

Afghanistan faced a long war of almost 20 years, which ended with the failure of America. But there was some truth in Netanyahu’s comments. After Israel and the US launched attacks on various countries in the Middle East (such as Iraq, Lebanon, Libya and Syria), the rest of the pro-Western Arab states began to align more closely with the US and Israel.

Netanyahu’s long-held plan and cherished dream of getting involved in an American war against Iran in the Middle East, which he had nurtured for nearly four decades, has now brought disaster upon himself. Israel’s current crisis is a reflection of that strategy, which is causing Israel’s long-term crisis and instability in the Middle East.

Netanyahu thought he would deal with the Palestinian problem by imposing a blockade on Gaza and gradually establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank. But that strategy collapsed on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led offensive. Since then, he and his allies have adopted a policy of total war, launching massive attacks against the Palestinians and accelerating the process of occupation.

In addition, by killing Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrullah, Netanyahu opened the ‘gates of hell’ for Israel. After Nasrullah was killed by Israeli forces, a retaliatory attack by Iran was only a matter of time.

Which the whole world witnessed last October 1 night. More than 180 Iranian missiles hit Israeli military bases including Tel Aviv. Iran’s attack was a big blow to Israel.

Netanyahu’s greatest tool is the continued military and diplomatic support of the United States. But he now faces a harsh reality. Where Israel’s power alone is not enough to rule the entire Middle East together. No matter how many people Israel kills.

However, Israel still has the support of the United States. But it would be an extremely risky position for Netanyahu to be in if an all-out Middle East war ensued.

While this moment is finally a trump card for Netanyahu, the reality is that many countries in the Middle East now see Israel as an adversary.

(By Middle East Eye opinion writer Joey Gill)

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