Even within the family, it is permissible to argue: the red line that Israel is drawing for the USA
In recent weeks, the State of Israel has been facing one of the most complex tests for its strategic future. Against the backdrop of growing international pressure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified a clear red line: Israel completely rejects the "15-point document," and the IDF will not carry out any withdrawal from the Gaza Strip until the full and absolute dismantling of Hamas.
In recent weeks, the State of Israel has been facing one of the most complex and important tests for its strategic future. Against the backdrop of growing international pressure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified a clear and firm red line this week, a line that everyone who has the country's security at heart must stand behind: Israel completely rejects the "15-point document," and the IDF will not carry out any withdrawal from the Gaza Strip until the full, real, and absolute dismantling of Hamas from all types of its weapons — from the heaviest to the lightest.
The precise words of the Prime Minister at the beginning of the cabinet meeting hold up a mirror to the reality unfolding behind the scenes: "We are talking about real dismantling, not fictitious dismantling. We are now talking to the Americans about this issue. They have ideas. Some of them are acceptable to us and some are not acceptable to us." These parts, which are not acceptable to us, are exactly the place where the Israeli system must stand its ground, protect national interests, and not sell its future security for temporary quiet or political achievements of foreign actors.
To understand the magnitude of the absurdity, one must look at what is happening on the other side of the border. The Egyptians, who built walls with their own hands and created the largest prison in the world in the Strip just to prevent Gazans from spilling into their territory, have found themselves in trouble. Factors in the Gaza Peace Council have been trying to explain to me throughout the last week: "What do you want from the Egyptians? If the Gazans pass through them, they will have a serious problem." So what is the creative solution that those factors found to solve the Egyptian conundrum? They recruited the two greatest "lovers of Israel" — the Qataris and the Turks — and together with them concocted an amazing political mixture.
This mixture includes bringing in Mohammed Dahlan, the Gazan Fatah man who fled the Strip the moment Hamas came to power, and creating an agreement that is entirely surrender and benefits for Hamas. This is a fake agreement that has no concern for the Israeli interest, but is a blatant attempt by international actors, together with the Hamas leadership, to meddle in our internal politics, split the right-wing camp in Israel, and create a defeatist discourse as if the country is retreating and surrendering. Unfortunately, there are those in the Israeli opposition — like Gadi Eizenkot — who are willing to adopt these surrender headlines, act out of confusion and division, and give up the achievements of the war.
Facing these pressures, even if they come from within the White House, we must not blink. It must be said honestly: there will be an argument with the White House. But even if there is an argument, it is an argument between friends and it is an argument within the family. And within the family, it is permissible to argue, and it is permissible to stand our ground. In the White House, there are factors sitting and many voices are heard, but as friends and partners, we must make it clear to them that Israel will not be a tool in this game.
The only event that should lead us is a stubborn adherence to our principles, within the framework of what is defined as the "20-point agreement," where the IDF and Israel are not required to fold or serve as a tool in the game of the Egyptian-Qatari exercise. We are witnessing these days an unprecedented briefing campaign by the people of the "Peace Board" in Israel, who flood every reporter, from junior to senior, morning, noon, and night. The hasty and stuttering Zoom interview of Nickolay Mladenov only proves that the real pressure is on them, not on us.
Our lives are hard in this land, but the State of Israel has proven in the past and will prove now that it knows how to stand firm against crises and maintain its clear lines. The Eternity of Israel will not lie — certainly not before those who try to force fake agreements on us, and those who listen to us must understand that Israel will stand its ground. We are not afraid of a long road.
The column was edited based on the remarks made by our political commentator Yaakov Bardugo to Tal Meir on the program "Israel This Morning."
