Loading ...Netanyahu’s Triumphalism Clashes with Ceasefire Process
By: Ghassan Rubeiz / Arab America Contributing Writer
Disclaimer: This article was written before the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier today. Haniyeh, who had been engaged in internationally-brokered ceasefire talks, was killed shortly after attending a swearing-in ceremony for Iran’s new president. This event may significantly impact the dynamics and context discussed in the article.
Last week Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that a ceasefire in Gaza was very close. From what we know, the difference in positions between Israel and Hamas on ending the fighting has often been wide. But on Sunday Gaza’s ceasefire negotiators meeting in Rome started to narrow the remaining gap between the two sides. So far, the efforts of the past few days have not been successful. The chances for a ceasefire in the short term remain slim.
The ceasefire has been hard to achieve for three main reasons. First, the approach to the resolution of the conflict seems paradoxical: one side of the conflict wants the other to surrender before it is defeated. Second, the US is too biased to be an honest broker. Third, the timing may not be convenient for Israel’s current leadership.
Israel insisted on continuing the military campaign until it defeated Hamas and demilitarized Gaza. It also plans to neutralize the threat of Hezbollah at its northern border and Iran’s central “threat” to the region.
A few days before the ceasefire negotiation started in Rome, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared in Washington that he was not ready to stop the war: with triumphalism Netanyahu addressed a joint US Congressional session on Wednesday. He did not show a desire for reconciliation, to meet the adversary halfway or to acknowledge the impact of Israel’s occupation of Arab land.
It was painful to observe how well Netanyahu’s empty rhetoric and shallow logic were received in Congress. Too many in the audience seemed nearly mesmerized. He received dozens of standing ovations. The spectacle suggested a State of the Union address given by a Republican president. The Democrats who attended the occasion were generally less enthusiastic about the speech; nearly half the Democrats, including VP Harris, did not show up. Former Senate Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi considered Netanyahu’s speech to Congress the worst in history. Pelosi says Netanyahu gave ‘the worst’ speech to Congress from any foreign leader (msn.com) The Congressional speech may have been an occasion for the Republicans to flex their political muscle nationally and attempt to enhance the image of a distrusted political figure.
On the battlefront, the situation does not seem ripe yet to hammer a diplomatic breakthrough. Hamas and its regional allies are not in a position to surrender to Israel. They demand to be met halfway: withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and leaving space for Hamas to participate in rebuilding the future. They have reason to believe that Israel is digging a hole for itself by refusing to recognize the force of resistance and the changing global geopolitics.
To achieve a ceasefire, both sides of the conflict must recognize the need for compromise, envision the impact of death and destruction, and imagine reasonable and creative solutions for the root causes of a long-standing conflict.
The second barrier to a ceasefire is the unwillingness of the US to change its position on Israel’s occupation of Arab land. Egypt and Qatar have been negotiating with Israel on behalf of Hamas; and the process of negotiations has been carried out under the auspices of the United States, which is also the chief broker.
It would have helped the process had the sponsor been neutral and objective. Since the start of the war in Gaza, the US has repeatedly affirmed the “right for Israel to defend itself”. However the US has never been as affirmative regarding the right of the Palestinians to retain their native land, the right of the people of Gaza to survive, and the right of their children to be protected from famine and disease. The US has been clear on what Palestinians must not do but ambiguous and inconsistent regarding what Israel must do.
Timing is another challenge for reaching an agreement to end the fighting. Netanyahu is not comfortable with the Biden administration. He anticipates unlimited tolerance from a Trump-led Republican administration. The Biden team has offered Israel the past nine months extensive military and diplomatic support. However, the White House wants the war in Gaza to end before it escalates into a regional conflagration. After a recent deadly attack on a Druze Israeli village from an unidentified militia ( not necessarily Hezbollah) in Lebanon, the risk of escalation to an all-out war between Israel and Lebanon has risen sharply.
Netanyahu wants to extend and expand the war. He desires to preserve his power and involve the US in a direct confrontation with Iran and with Hezbollah. He also seeks to create a Middle East political landscape where Israel becomes a regional superpower. He dreams of an “Abraham Alliance”.
To Netanyahu’s surprise, the results of the US elections are no longer predictable. Last week Biden retreated from the presidential race and Kamala Harris emerged as a formidable opponent to Donald Trump.
Harris is trying to woo Arab American voters by expressing genuine compassion for the people of Gaza. She is also pushing for an immediate ceasefire. She won’t be “numb” or “silent”. Her sincerity and compassion are not enough to end the conflict. At the present, like Biden, Harris is unable to put much more pressure on Israel. The depth of American emotions for the Jewish state is phenomenal, and no single American politician has been able to stand firmly for Palestinian rights, for too long, in the face of the pro-Israel lobby and American sentiment.
As time passes, Harris might be able to balance her enthusiasm for supporting Israel with action for justice in Palestine. If she cares for Arab American concerns, she will choose a strong and honest running mate who would push for justice. Arab-American leaders optimistic about Harris, cautious on prospective running mate Gov. Shapiro (msn.com) Over the past week Harris has gained some status among Arab Americans, but there is much more for her to do to win Middle Eastern voters in November.
All three factors impacting the ceasefire are interrelated. Unconditional US support leads to unrealistic expectations to settle political problems with force. When such support is challenged, Israel’s leaders anticipate change in the White House.
Ghassan Rubeiz is the former Middle East Secretary of the World Council of Churches. Earlier he taught psychology and social work in his country of birth, Lebanon, and later in the United States, where he currently lives. For the past twenty years, he has contributed to political commentary and delivered occasional public talks on subjects related to peace, justice, and interfaith. You can reach him at rubeizg@gmail.com
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Arab America. The reproduction of this article is permissible with proper credit to Arab America and the author.
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