We’re in the same ballpark here but I think you are describing an endgame which is impossible and that the situation requires stepping stones with an endgame in mind, but which will take its own courseLook, I agree 100% in principal. However, the radicalisation has already happened. Anybody who sees the slaughter of Israeli children (deliberate and premeditated) and then becomes more anti-Israel when they retaliate was already lost. The people dying now have been set up to die by Hamas. It is the gameplan. If Israel stops short of making it logistically impossible for this to be repeated, it just will be.
Iran want all this bloodshed and Iran have one huge advantage. They aren't there. They don't care. They are not impacted. Therefore it doesn't matter which hearts and minds Israel win right now. They are simply screwed.
On the other hand, they need to become overly nice and friendly after. They need to stop the brutal policing and horrendous behaviour of their own troops. They need to stop pushing into areas they shouldn't be in.
This is two religious states butting heads. Basically theocracies based on divisive ideologies. Religion and race and state have no business being in bed together.
‘Getting the job done’ involves massive civilian suffering g, surely we can’t support that?
You say the radicalisation has already happened, but there are many Palestinians and Israelis who want peace and a fair solution. The more atrocities there are, the more this group can lose that view. You can’t solve this problem with war although I recognise it has to start that way and the Hamas organisation has to be ‘disabled’
But the next stage has to be diplomatic and winning hearts and minds as well as military defence of Israel
The trouble is that Netanyahu has no desire for diplomacy so, as much as Hamas needs to be disabled, Israel needs a govt that wants a peaceful solution. And the next elections aren’t until Oct 2026
This is a tough subject to discuss by this means, but hey, debate on these matters is good right?
