Israel's Post-Withdrawal Legitimacy Hopes Dashed, Analyst Argues

An Israeli analyst contends that the assumption that territorial withdrawals grant broader international legitimacy for self-defense has been disproven since Operation Cast Lead through the current conflict, "Swords of Iron." The public discourse surrounding the film "Nezah" is presented as a distraction from the core issue: the flawed concept that withdrawals enhance legitimacy for defensive actions.

This flawed concept, the author argues, was central to the arguments supporting the 2004 disengagement from Gaza. Proponents claimed international, particularly American, support would increase if Israel needed to respond militarily post-withdrawal. The expectation was that Palestinians would bear responsibility for terror originating from Gaza, and that settlements lacking international recognition would be removed. However, the author posits that democratic nations face intense international criticism when confronting terrorism that uses civilians as human shields, regardless of prior withdrawals.

The Goldstone Report following Operation Cast Lead, which questioned the sufficiency of warnings like leaflet drops or roof-knocking, is cited as an early indicator. The article further suggests that in an era of rising antisemitism, no withdrawal or peace gesture can legitimize significant civilian casualties in Israeli military actions.

The author emphasizes that the argument is not about the morality of civilian harm during war, but about the "illusion of legitimacy" derived from withdrawals. The post-October 7th conflict and "Swords of Iron" have seen unprecedented international criticism, including accusations of genocide, despite research from institutions like the Begin-Sadat Center and Reichman University refuting these claims. Even the Biden administration, initially perceived as supportive, has criticized Israel's humanitarian record in Gaza.

The article concludes that the results since the Oslo Accords, the withdrawal from South Lebanon, and the Gaza disengagement demonstrate that withdrawals embolden terrorism. Instead of gaining broad international support for self-defense, Israel faces accusations of genocide and threats of sanctions. The author urges those advocating for further withdrawals, particularly from areas currently controlled by the IDF in Gaza, to confront this reality and the inherent failure in achieving international legitimacy for effective military action.