Netanyahu's Last Resort: A Strategic Void and Regional Isolation

An analysis in Maariv by Yisrael Ziv argues that the Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has shifted from a policy of "calm at any cost" to "war at any cost" without a clear political objective. This shift, Ziv contends, is devaluing military achievements and squandering regional opportunities that arose from them. The author criticizes the government's narrative, which he claims deflects blame for the October 7th failures onto subordinates rather than acknowledging systemic issues, thus preventing lessons from being learned.

The article highlights the perceived ineffectiveness of threats against Hezbollah, noting that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's inability to disarm the organization is overlooked amidst talk of tunnel destruction. It also points to the neglect of a framework agreement with Lebanon, which had created an incentive for the Lebanese government to act against Hezbollah, in favor of escalating the conflict, a move deemed beneficial for elections but detrimental to Israel.

Furthermore, the piece emphasizes the strategic implications of the Houthi takeover of key Yemeni coastlines and islands controlling the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This strait, crucial for global trade, is now effectively closed, compounding the impact of the already blocked Strait of Hormuz. This situation, Ziv suggests, could have been an opportunity for Israel to lead an effort to reopen maritime passages and translate military potential into political capital.

Instead, the government is characterized as leading a "messianic coalition" with ineffective rhetoric. The author asserts that Israel faces a triple failure under the current government: fostering Hamas, the October 7th defeat, and a return to security zones in Gaza and Lebanon post-war. The article concludes by mentioning Donald Trump's alleged role in preventing further regional escalation by Netanyahu, suggesting that Trump, like many others, awaits post-election changes, and that Netanyahu's desired "victory tour" with Trump is no longer feasible.