Israel Trapped in War On Many Fronts Without Exit Strategy
The attack by Hamas triggered an Israeli response so vengeful that it has been impossible to fit within the boundaries set by international laws (Nesrine Malik, Guardian)
The Israeli situation as an occupying power in Palestine, reminds us of occupying super powers in world history who won battles but, ultimately, lost the wars. That is because local populations are always hostile to occupying forces and side with the insurgents. For example, the Khalsa defeated invading powers from the North-West because they had the support of the local population. War against occupying powers is continued by next generations who have experienced and seen what has been done to them and their families.
More recent history reminds us of the withdrawal of colonial British from Malaysia and the defeats of the Americans in Vietnam, the French in Vietnam and Algeria, the Soviets in Afghanistan, and the Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The main reason for Western support for Israel is the safety of the Jewish people. However, in Gaza, Israel destroyed its own reputation by going too far. Now, the timing of the Israeli attack on Iran can be interpreted as an attempt to restore own credibility in the eyes of Western allies.
So, Israel is now engaged in a war on many fronts. It may be winning in the military sense but there is no end to this war in sight. Even a defeated Iran can strangle the busiest shipping lane in the world through the Arabian Gulf and trigger a major global conflict. In recent years, Iranian commandos have already struck oil tankers, carrying the lifeblood of global industry through the narrow choke points of the Gulf.
The alleged genocide in Gaza by Israel in retaliation for 7 October 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas, was followed by the invasion of southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, the occupation of the buffer zone in south-western Syria, and now, the air bombardment of Iran. In the meantime, Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank keep expanding.
The US and other Western countries have been giving almost unlimited support to Israel to defend itself in what is a strategic region. However, that support assumes that Israel would respond to any threats to its security in a proportional way. Clearly, in Gaza that has not been the case and thousands of civilians, including a very large number of children have been killed in the full glare of the world TV. People are being starved to death and countries like the UK, Canada and France have spoken out. Israel has weaponised the threats to its security to such an extent that it has become a primary factor in its own insecurity, and that of the rest of the region.
There is also an assumption in Western support for Israel that security and safety for its citizens is the only reason for use of force by Israel. Yet, the impression gained is that PM Netanyahu of Israel is using the war to bolster his own public support. By doing that he is only making Israelis less safe in the long run and risks losing Western support.
By attacking Iran, Israel hopes to restore trust with Western allies. That is a most dangerous move which can have global consequences depending on how Iran responds to Israel.
Israel may defeat Hamas and Hezbollah but it stands to lose both, the longer term war and its security.
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd (UK)
E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk
Sikh ideology articles: https://www.sikhmissionarysociety.org/