NETANYAHU TEETERS ON SHIFTING SANDS – by Joe Van Langenberg
*Pledge to destroy Hamas ‘Unrealistic’….
Since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to stage a ground offensive against the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group Hamas, in quick retaliation for the brutal, unexpected strikes against his country on October 07.2023, the situation has seemingly reached an apocalyptic point of no return.
As stated earlier, Hamas’ initial onslaught left 1,200 people dead; not to mention 240 persons been taken as hostages. Releasing the hostages figured prominently in the short-lived cessation of hostilities, which in fact was observed from November 24 to December 01 2023, but failed to lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities, notwithstanding Qatar-sponsored mediation efforts.
And now, it has been brimstone and fire emanating from every nook & cranny, on account of Netanyahu’s recalcitrance, unwillingness to seek a middle ground and determination to carry on, come what may.
Hitherto, tens of thousands from both sides of the warring divide, have been butchered. And that is a tragedy that history will never absolve.
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Since Benjamin Netanyahu decided to launch a no-holds-barred, no-questions-asked unrelenting attack on Gaza, on the pretext of smoking out the so-called terrorists from clandestine tunnels from where they operate,
supposedly built under hospitals and other complexes that provide a collective shelter to those fleeing the debilitating ravages of war, blood-letting has become commonplace.
What factually eventuated however, was the barbaric, inhumane slaughter of individuals, for been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Israeli War Cabinet minister Gadi Eisekot is of the view, that defeating Hamas is unrealistic. As such, he has called for fresh elections, an injection of new blood and change in the prime ministerial guard, that will provide a level playing field for the betterment of all & sundry.
Speaking shortly after Netanyahu stated confidently that Israel’s military campaign will continue until it achieved complete victory over Hamas; Mr Eisekot alluded to the fact that Netanyahu’s latest remarks could be indicative of widening rifts and deep-seated discontent with the prime minister’s somewhat authoritarian and erratic style of governance.
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Netanyahu has been a deeply polarising figure over the years. He has additionally been charged with fraud, bribery and breach of trust back in 2019; cases that remain, pending their conclusion and final outcome. If eventually found guilty, he could face lengthy jail terms.
Former Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gansz who reportedly has a somewhat squeaky clean image, continues to be widely tipped to replace Benjamin Netanyahu when an election gets underway. Nonetheless, given Netanyahu’s determination to cling to power on the pretext of eliminating Hamas in its entirety, the likelihood of Gansz donning the mantle anytime soon, appears to be a distant dream.
Netanyahu who has till recently been one of Uncle Sam’s blue-eyed boys, in light of US Secretary of State William Blinkin’s recent visit to Israel and the warm-hearted hugs that were part of the two men’s touching encounter, Netanyahu could very well have ruffled America’s feathers, by rejecting the suggestions of a two-state solution and the right for Palestine to exist, without let or hindrance; both of which all of Israel’s leaders have been totally against, since the said State was created by David Ben-Gurion back in 1948.
Netanyahu has not only thumbed his nose at his staunchest ally America, but he seems to have got under the skin of UN Security Council Secretary General Antonio Guterras; both of whom urged a speedy cessation of hostilities, which they felt could lead to tangible peace.
At this point in time, Netanyahu keeps teetering on shifting sands, with the probability of being widely isolated, marginalised and even reviled.
