On a smokescreen – Amos Harel in Haaretz:
‘Security sources told Haaretz that Israel is still leaving room for an interim deal that would secure the release of hostages. However, given the political pressure in favor of expanding military operations, they believe such an escalation is increasingly likely.
Netanyahu's plans are highly ambitious and face no significant opposition from senior Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security service officials. The goal is to use Zamir's military campaign to establish military rule in Gaza – or at least in large parts of it – while transferring control over humanitarian aid distribution to the IDF.
Former IDF chief Herzl Halevi strongly opposed this approach, warning that soldiers must not be put in a situation where they are killed while distributing flour to the Palestinian civilian population.
It seems that Israel is currently creating a smokescreen around the government and military's true intentions. While waiting for possible updates in negotiations, which are uncertain, preparations are underway for a large-scale operation to occupy Gaza and restore full Israeli control.’
(…)
‘Meanwhile, a security survey among Palestinians suggests that nearly a quarter of Gaza's population would agree to migrate, though it remains unclear which country would be willing to accept Gaza's residents.
Journalist Amit Segal, who is well-versed in Netanyahu's inner circle, wrote on Friday in his column for Yedioth Ahronoth that Netanyahu is aiming for a "complete change of the rules of the game," with full backing from Trump.
"What convinced the president more than anything to return to war was actually his meeting with the [released] hostages," Segal said. "They came to convince him that everyone should be freed now, and he was persuaded that before that, Hamas should be taken out first."’
(…)
‘It currently seems that the constitutional crisis surrounding the dismissal of Ronen Bar and the intention to remove Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara will merge with the growing debate over the direction of the war in Gaza. It is hard to rule out the possibility that, for Netanyahu, this is the preferred path – an intense confrontation on multiple fronts, during which he will escalate actions against his opponents and try to achieve his ultimate goal: political survival while delaying his criminal trial proceedings.’
Read the article here.
How many people should die for your own political survival?
It appears, just as many as needed.
The capricious Trump might change his mind regarding he blank check he has given Netanyahu, the moment the-never-ending-war will hurt Trump in one way or another, he will change sides.
His grievances and political survival after all come first.