Israeli Diplomat Warns: Right-Wing Policy Towards Palestinians Threatens 'Tel Aviv's' Strategic Interests

Prominent Israeli diplomat and former ambassador, Michael Harari, warned of the serious strategic repercussions inherent in the current right-wing government's policy towards the Palestinian issue. Harari indicated that attempts to remove the Palestinian file from the political agenda and preoccupation with other regional files might achieve temporary tactical gains, but it puts Israel's vital interests at risk in the long run.

Harari explained in an analysis published by Hebrew media that Israeli society has been immersed in questions about intelligence and security failure since the events of October 7th, while the government refuses to form an official investigation committee. He considered that this internal preoccupation allowed the government to pass extremist policies in the Palestinian arena away from popular oversight or serious political accountability.

Sources stated that the current direction of decision-makers in Tel Aviv focuses almost entirely on threats coming from Iran and Lebanon, considering them 'existential threats'. In contrast, the Palestinian arena, which was the initial spark for the outbreak of the situation in the region, is being marginalized. This is a deliberate marginalization aimed at changing the reality on the ground without international noise.

The former ambassador pointed to a strategic shift aimed primarily at tightening control over the West Bank and paving the way for actual annexation operations. He considered that the continued presence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip was viewed by some parties on the right as a tool to enhance division, serving the ultimate goal of weakening the Palestinian Authority and undermining any chance of establishing an independent state.

The analysis also noted the escalation of 'deportation' rhetoric, or what is called 'voluntary migration', within Israeli political circles. These ideas began to leak from Gaza and find their way into discussions related to the West Bank. Harari affirmed that these trends have raised deep concern among both Egypt and Jordan, given their direct implications for their national security and the stability of signed peace agreements.

Harari criticized the absence of strong Israeli opposition to these extremist ideas, considering that years of political process absence and the support provided by former US President Donald Trump contributed to embedding these perceptions. He warned that the right-wing's exploitation of regional crises and the state of shock within Israeli society might succeed in misleading public opinion for a period, but it will not protect Israel from increasing international isolation.

In conclusion of his analysis, the Israeli diplomat warned that the continued marginalization of the diplomatic path represented by Mahmoud Abbas will ultimately lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority. He stressed that this scenario will put Israel face-to-face with a completely different and more complex field and regional reality, emphasizing that warnings of this outcome have already been presented but without a real response.

The policy pursued by the right-wing government, despite its short-term gains, endangers the interests of the occupation in the long run amidst the erosion of international standing.