Hebrew Papers: A new regional and global architecture: This is the larger goal behind the war in Gaza

One of the goals of the war decided by the Israeli government is to destroy the military and authoritarian capabilities of Hamas and other “terrorist” organizations in the Gaza Strip. This is the first phase of the war, and the Israeli army is working to implement these political directives. As for the people of Israel and the peoples of the region and the world, they are waiting to see whether Israel will act with the required strictness. It is clear that the results of the war in Gaza will affect the region, which will, in turn, affect the international arena. What we see before us now is a historic opportunity to reshape the Middle East in a way that improves Israel's strategic position.

It seems that there are no responsible parties in Israel prepared to return to the situation that Israel was in, on the eve of the deadly attack on October 7. The State of Israel faces a regional and international challenge, as it is not fighting this war alone. Israel is fighting the free world's war against "murderous barbarism." Israel has become the last stronghold, the last dam, in the face of the “barbarians” invading the heart of Western civilization. This is how we should look at this war, and this is how we should present it.

These days, everyone must draw clear dividing lines between deadly darkness and humanity, between good and evil, and between right and wrong. Hamas is only one component of the radical axis led by Iran, which is supported by both Russia and China. Therefore, the results of this war will necessarily affect the system of global powers, and any achievement short of its complete destruction and turning Gaza into a wasteland before the eyes of the world, forever, will represent an achievement for the axis of resistance, and lead to its strengthening and the continuation of its deadly conflict aimed at undermining the two regional and international systems. 

The State of Israel should not only destroy Hamas, but rather assume full security responsibility for the Gaza Strip for the coming years. Only in this way can the security of citizens and the army be restored, and only in this way can the return to prosperity of the towns in the Western Negev be guaranteed. But this alone is not enough.

The Gaza war should turn into a demolition machine that digs into the foundations of the existing order and undermines it, leading to the establishment of a new regional order. This will be reflected in a new regional architecture, based on normalization processes between Israel and the Arab world, led by Saudi Arabia. This new regional camp, supported by America, must become a strong and protective wall against the spread of the Iranian resistance axis, or even its weakening.

The new order requires strictness against countries that oppose the new order and deceive the free world. One example of such countries is Qatar. It is a small emirate that maneuvers, thanks to its huge oil and gas reserves, and by operating the island’s network, as if it were a regional superpower. It provides assistance to Hamas, but it enjoys its connection to all parties, and positions itself as an important and influential player in the game of nations. We must not allow Qatar to continue to “evade.” The United States should also give Qatar the option of separating from Hamas, expelling all of the movement’s activists from its territory, and completely curbing the Al Jazeera network. Otherwise, the United States will lift its protection from Qatar. Attempts to use Qatar as a mediator vis-à-vis Hamas and Iran, and any agreement to continue working on current policies, will be a disruption to the new system that is supposed to be implemented, and will also be a driving wind in the sails of the Iranian ship.

The process of releasing the two kidnapped women who hold American citizenship once again raises scenes of selectivity in our history...Hamas took this step in order to gain legitimacy to continue pushing Western countries, in order to pressure Israel to postpone the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Instead of her detention of the kidnapped people turning into a burden on her, this liberation process shows that the kidnapped people have turned into an asset. And here is Qatar, once again, reaping the fruits of glory, and consolidating its position as an important mediator and a major, legitimate regional player.

Voices will rise demanding the liberation of the kidnapped, by replacing them with security prisoners. We must remember that the one who planned and carried out this “terrorist” attack was none other than Yahya Sinwar, who was liberated as part of the Gilad Shalit deal, and other prisoners liberated in this deal led the deadly attack. By the time the deadly attack was carried out, which cost Israel a heavy price in blood, about 90 Israelis had been killed by liberators in that deal. Any additional prisoner release deal means the release of thousands of “killers” who will kill Israelis later. Any prisoner exchange deal will raise morale in the resistance axis.

The new regional order requires breaking away from outdated models, such as the need to support the Palestinian Authority, without this authority undergoing changes in its essence. The war in Gaza highlights, more and more, the laxity of the Palestinian Authority and its lack of connection with reality. Talking about the return of the Palestinian Authority to rule in Gaza is separate from reality. This authority is unable to control the sector, due to its “weakness, corruption, and lack of legitimacy.”

Controlling the Gaza Strip the day after the war requires a settlement that rehabilitates the conditions for the future return of the Palestinian Authority to the Strip, after proving its ability to govern in the West Bank, and a complete cessation of incitement, glorification of “saboteurs,” “terrorist activities,” and “support.” "Material income for terrorists and their families." In any case, and under any circumstances, Israel must reserve for itself complete freedom of security action in the Gaza Strip, similar to the freedom of action available to it in the areas of the West Bank. Israel must also maintain its operational freedom of movement. This means the ability to carry out military action of all sizes, with the aim of immediately eliminating any attempt at a rise by Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

The Gaza war is also considered a historic opportunity to dismantle UNRWA, an organization that represents an active partner in perpetuating the conflict, by instilling the spirit of armed resistance, the myth of the return of refugees, and for playing an active role in the deadly incitement against Israel. This organization has worked alongside the Palestinian Authority, as a leading body in rehabilitating souls and crystallizing awareness of the struggle against Israel among the younger generation, since the beginning of the Oslo process.

Underestimating the importance of combating incitement, the importance of changing the Palestinian school curricula, and the issue of paying salaries to “terrorists” and their families [salaries to prisoners and families of martyrs], is what created this “rotten fruit” represented in the broader Palestinian narrative, especially among the younger generation of Palestinians, who This generated widespread popular support for Hamas and its “murderous and barbaric” operations. We must not allow the revival of the Palestinian Authority, without it making a fundamental change that affects everything related to the contents that are taught in the educational system and in the Palestinian media.

The Gaza war must end with a clear and clear achievement that not only weakens and deters the Iranian axis, but also constitutes a gateway to the next stage, which is the disarmament of Hezbollah, as it is the most important forward front for Iran. Israel cannot long tolerate Hezbollah's threats, which represent a blazing danger from the northern border, affecting all parts of the State of Israel. Hezbollah's fate must be one and no other: dismantling the party to its foundations. Dismantling Hamas in the Gaza Strip would consolidate the belief, not only in Israel, but also in the United States and the free world, of the necessity of undermining Hezbollah later in this battle.

However, even after this happens, the great war against the Axis of Evil will not end. Israel and the free world are required to continue relentlessly pursuing the leaders and activists of organizations around the world. The world has known how to unite against ISIS and define the organization as a global threat. The goal at this stage must be to unite the free world behind the slogan of war aimed at ending Hamas, Hezbollah, and all the other organizations within Iran’s orbit, until Eliminate them completely, and all these organizations must be defined as a global threat. In parallel, all efforts must be seriously unified against Iran, with a focus on the realistic military option against it.

The war in Gaza turns Israel, and behind it important American support, into the spearhead of the necessary global struggle against the “killer” axis of resistance. This war will be long and painful, but there is no alternative. The end of this war must be an unequivocal victory that also serves to consolidate the international and regional position of the United States, as it resolutely leads the free world and represents the greatest threat against the other camp. According to many concepts, Israel is now living the continuation of the 1948 war, and there is no war more just than this one.

Source: Maariv newspaper