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Israeli journalists and influencers are posting on the coming operation in Gaza.
What was so dramatic about the cabinet decision last night?
In the past two years, there have been decisions far more dramatic — sending soldiers to the front lines or risking the lives of hostages. (The decisions to bomb Iran, strike Hezbollah, or begin maneuvering in Gaza after October 7 were much more “dangerous.”)
So what’s all the drama about? And why did even Tzipi Livni, who left political life years ago, rush to demand that the head of the Histadrut labor union shut down the economy (and what does he even have to do with this)?
The answer: For decades, generals have repeated the mantra that every military maneuver must lead to a political horizon and diplomatic achievement, and that this is the measure of its success. Last night, the cabinet changed the direction of the diplomatic ship — and all the former officials and veterans of the “political solution” camp are in shock.
For decades, the career path of every brave general leaving the IDF was to join some “strategic research institute” — in Washington or in Israel (such as the INSS) — most aligned with progressive Democrats in the U.S. and supported by them. There, they were taught about “political solutions.”
The overarching idea promoted by all these think tanks was that the Israeli–Palestinian conflict must end in an agreement and compromise. Hundreds of plans and proposals were drafted over the decades, and even a few international agreements were signed in that spirit.
The cabinet decision last night — to conquer Gaza — launches an alternative political plan, also backed by the U.S., which is different from and opposite to all the models presented to us over the years.
Main points of the new political plan:
• The two-state solution has failed and is off the table (the Europeans made some noise for solidarity’s sake, then vanished).
• Hamas — representing most of Gaza’s population and a significant portion of the Arabs in Judea and Samaria — will be eliminated as a governing and military entity.
• Gaza will no longer be considered Palestinian territory. It was never under the sovereignty of any state. In essence, Gaza is terra nullius — land belonging to no one. Egypt gave it up; Israel got stuck with it in the 1981 peace agreement with Egypt and relinquished it in the disengagement. Now, the U.S. president wants it.
• The U.S. and Israel are coordinated on the “political horizon”: Israel will defeat Hamas, and the U.S. will support the demilitarization of the area — removing weapons and fighters. Homeless residents who wish to emigrate will receive American assistance and destination countries. Those who remain will integrate into the U.S. economic development vision.
• And why is Gaza so important to the U.S.? I have written more than once about Gaza’s role as a critical passage in the American vision for a southern goods and energy corridor, as part of Trump’s new world order plan. (See thread.)
The entire security leadership and political opposition leadership are in complete denial — for them, Trump’s plan either does not exist or will never materialize. In their eyes, we are not moving toward a political solution but toward a swamp of terrorism — as if we learned nothing from Lebanon and Gaza in the past.
Isn’t such conduct even more irresponsible? To ignore a known plan, one that representatives of the Israeli and American governments have repeated again and again?
And more surprising than anything is to see this denial from someone who served here as prime minister, knows the U.S. administration, understands diplomatic processes, hears from administration officials — yet refuses to acknowledge what is happening. Instead, he chooses to sow panic and despair among the Israeli public, tired but determined to win.
This is what former Prime Minister Yair Lapid said about last night’s cabinet decision:
“The cabinet decision last night is a disaster that will lead to many more disasters.
In complete contradiction to the opinion of the army and security ranks, without considering the wear and exhaustion of the fighting forces, Ben Gvir and Smotrich dragged Netanyahu into a move that will take many months, lead to the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost the Israeli taxpayer tens of billions, and result in diplomatic collapse. This is exactly what Hamas wanted: for Israel to be stuck in the field without a goal, without defining the picture of the day after, in a useless conquest that no one understands where it leads.
History and your common sense will judge who was right.”
(Shlomo Filber)
Prime Minister’s Office:
The Security Cabinet approved the Prime Minister’s proposal to defeat Hamas.
The IDF will prepare to take control of the city of Gaza while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.
The Cabinet adopted by a majority vote the five principles to end the war:
1. Disarm Hamas.
2. Return all hostages – both the living and the fallen.
3. Demilitarize the Gaza Strip.
4. Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip.
5. The existence of an alternative civilian government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
An overwhelming majority of Cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan presented to the Cabinet would not achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages.
First stage: Entry of large-scale humanitarian aid for the city of Gaza.
Second stage – relocation of the population to southern Gaza to central camps by October 7.
Third stage: Full encirclement and takeover of the city of Gaza.
Ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich voted against building additional aid centers and the scope of humanitarian aid entry. Additionally, the two opposed these being the 5 principles set to end the war. Smotrich opposed the decision in all its clauses while Ben Gvir voted in favor of the takeover of the city of Gaza. Sa’ar and Elkin abstained from voting on one of the clauses.
Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Chief of Staff: The plan you presented will not help in returning the hostages. The plan we have just approved will more effectively achieve the war’s objectives.
An official present at the meeting: This is not the optimal plan but what we approved is much better than what the Chief of Staff proposed.
Netanyahu declares Israeli ground invasion of Gaza “the best way to end the war.” He stated, “Our goal is not to occupy Gaza. Our goal is to free Gaza.” (Amir Tsarfati Telegram Channel)
1 comment
That’s the best thing that could happen for Israel and Palestinians who want to work with Israelis. Finally some peace. And if Palestinians aren’t in agreement, then there’s other Arab countries that might take them in, though I doubt it very much! When you’re a known quantity, there isn’t much call for you.