“Like the Americans, the army and the Ministry of Defense also believe that it is important to think from now about the next day. Paradoxically, and contrary to the declared goals of the war, maintaining a certain civilian capacity for Hamas will facilitate the performance of the sector in the future.”

The Israeli security leadership agrees with the view of US President Joe Biden about the necessity of developing visions for solutions in the Gaza Strip after the end of the current war, a period that has become known as “the day after.” On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still refuses to hold any deliberations about “the next day.” Netanyahu's position will lead to the fact that even if the Americans achieve strategic transformations that are in Israel's favor, Netanyahu will fail, according to military analysts in newspapers published today, Friday.

Tal Lev Ram, a military analyst in the Maariv newspaper, pointed out that “the gaps in the perceptions of the Israeli security leadership - from the army to the Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant - are much narrower than the gaps that Netanyahu seems to be seeking to market abroad, and these appear to be internal political considerations vis-à-vis his voters. Netanyahu had to realize that he was in a war on multiple fronts, and Israel had to align itself with the United States and not the other way around."

During a press conference in Tel Aviv today, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan explained the shape of the American plan to continue the war on Gaza. He said that the war will move from the stage of intense Israeli bombing and extensive ground maneuvers, to a less intense stage, and will focus on targeting the leadership of Hamas, and that in this context the United States agrees that the war will continue for many months. He added, "Control in the Gaza Strip must be transferred to the Palestinians." This is conditional on a political process the “next day,” which Netanyahu opposes.

Lev Ram considered that "the prime minister's attempt to follow a strict line against the American administration would harm Israeli interests in managing the war." But he pointed out that until now, and as was the case in the past, the relations between the Israeli and American security services “are what allow obstacles to be overcome when they arise in the (political) field.”

He pointed out that American support for Israel in the international arena, by supplying unprecedented quantities of weapons, “is of decisive importance to Israel’s ability to manage a war for two and a half months. A crisis in relations with the Americans is the last thing that Israel needs now, and Netanyahu’s words and performance, which did not prevent the Americans are indifferent, the overwhelming majority of war cabinet ministers oppose it.”

According to Lev Ram, “Just like the Americans, the army and the Ministry of Security also believe that it is important to think from now on the next day. This does not mean that they agree on everything, but they are looking for solutions.”

He added that the solutions that the Israeli security apparatus is talking about are for the Gaza Strip to be demilitarized, preventing the increasing strength of the resistance factions "and preserving freedom of military action." In addition, “there is a realization that an authoritarian alternative to Hamas rule must be built in the Gaza Strip, and that it should at least be able to manage the needs of the population there. They wanted the security apparatus to conduct this effort vis-à-vis Egypt, but they realize that various operations will be needed against the remnants of the corps.” A careerist who is not affiliated with Hamas and whom Israel has worked with in the past.”

Lev Ram continued that the Israeli security apparatus attaches importance to American attempts to reach a specific settlement in Lebanon. “If this fails, the path to another escalation (i.e. war) will be very short. The Israeli leadership prefers the American effort to remove Hezbollah from the border as part of an attempt to settle other issues (the land border demarcation agreement and withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms), over a war against Hezbollah.” .

The military analyst in the newspaper "Haaretz", Amos Harel, pointed out that "the 'Next Day' crew formed by Netanyahu does not aim to develop solutions, but rather to procrastinate. In practice, even if the military operation passes successfully, Netanyahu's political performance may fail to benefit." “One of its achievements is to create a better strategic reality.”

According to Harel, Israel and Egypt “deliberately discussed the next day’s settlements in the Gaza Strip. Among the matters discussed were new settlements in the Philadelphia axis and the Rafah crossing, and a study was made to build the Radgha Wall against the tunnels, deep in the ground, like the one that was built on the border between Israel and Israel.” And Egypt. This concept collapsed on October 7 when Hamas carried out its attack above ground and ignored the underground wall.”

He added that the Israeli side held deliberations with Egypt about the situation inside the Gaza Strip, "during which interim solutions were searched for that would not clash with the strict conditions set by Netanyahu, that is, without the Palestinian Authority."

He continued, "There are currently preliminary field coordination processes, in order to solve local problems, in exchange for businessmen, local families, international organizations, and sometimes with individuals from civil organizations, indirectly linked to the Palestinian Authority."

According to Harel, “the security forces fear entering into two traps in the long term: the collapse of civilian systems that would lead to the restructuring of Israeli military rule, or massive chaos similar to Somalia, in which there will be no basis for coordination in the Strip.”

Harel pointed out that, "Paradoxically, and contrary to the declared goals of the war, maintaining a certain civilian capacity for Hamas will facilitate the performance of the Gaza Strip in the future."

Source: Arab48