Mediation Efforts for Ceasefire Give Israel an Easy Way Out

May 11, 2023 03:52 pm

Amos Harel – Haaretz

Islamic Jihad needed not less than 35 hours between the Israeli assassination of three of its senior leaders in the Gaza Strip and its reply with extensive rocket-shelling towards the south and shelling of few rockets at the entrances of Gush Dan. While casualties on the Israeli side are still minima, this is a good chance for Israel to end this fight round, which is not likely to achieve better outcomes should it continue.

The 35-hour delay in reply was truly exceptional and raised a few questions in Israel. In the beginning, the Israeli army, and the political officials, tried to claim that it was attributed to the shock caused by the operation to the Jihad leadership, which was inflicted with severe losses. However, Israel tends to exaggerate the effects of its military moves on the other party.

Israel avoided major flare, but now it is paying the price; a price to Hamas granting it time and money to invest in building its military power. Israel positions itself as a true opponent to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The Israeli relationship with the Authority is in its weakest levels, especially under the current government, which seems to prefer offering facilitations to Hamas to helping the Authority’s leadership in Ramallah. Anyway, as Hamas remains relatively strong and fearless before Israel, all statements on retrieving Israel’s determent are empty words.

In the background, we should stay alert to another date; Jerusalem Day on May 19th, which is Friday of the next week. This date was sensitive in the past few years, especially due to the Flags March organized by the Religious Zionism in the Old City and the Palestinian attempts to interrupt it. In Palestinian statements, they remind themselves of this date. Perhaps in Gaza, some would like to extend the round until Jerusalem Day and exploit the religious tension on the city to fuel the situation.  

 

Related