It’s useful to look at the past two years from a bird’s-eye point of view. In recent weeks Israel came within a hair’s breadth of total failure. Not militarily, but politically and strategically. Hamas managed to drag Israel into a collapse. The economic boycott began to hit imports and exports. The Israeli assumption that “military pressure will produce concessions” did not prove itself over the past two years.
On the contrary, international pressure, driven by military action, risked pushing Israel from collapse into total breakdown. The agreement arrived at a critical moment. The very fact that Israel declared a halt to fighting, even if it continues for defensive purposes only, is effectively a rescue from collapse.
The agreement, if it is realized, gives Israel all the war’s objectives. And yet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not sign an agreement that includes “self-determination” for the Palestinians — in other words, a state — of his own free will. He signed because a gun was put to his head.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the ceasefire because US President Donald Trump had a figurative gun to his head
(Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
In any case, the problem is the accumulating damage. Israel won the battle but lost the war. All the very significant strategic achievements against Iran and Hezbollah began to fade because of the deepening damage to Israel’s international standing. The growing refusal of port workers to load cargo bound for Israel could have led to an unprecedented economic crisis. Another step toward collapse. Already, vital military equipment is not reaching Israel.
The agreement, if it takes root, will not erase hostility to Israel overnight. But it applies the brakes. Now the difficult task of rebuilding Israel’s diplomatic standing will begin. It’s doubtful this government is capable of that task. It will be a long-term task.
It doesn’t matter what Hamas says. Netanyahu has steered himself into a position in which the only thing that matters is what Trump says
Hamas’ answer is not exactly “yes.” But here’s another absurdity: it doesn’t matter what Hamas says. Netanyahu has steered himself into a position in which the only thing that matters is what Trump says. Trump declared the reply positive, and even turned Hamas into a movement for peace. Within hours Netanyahu was forced, again under duress, to order a halt to the fighting.
Why the hell did Israel not initiate any move? Instead of a forced halt to fighting, Israel could have, again and again, initiated ceasefires to make clear that Hamas is the party that wants war, not Israel. After all, Hamas’ weapons did not win in Jabaliya or in Rafah. Hamas won on the international stage. On campuses, on social media, in newspapers, in labor unions.
Public opinion shifted in the U.S. as well, moving from support for Israel to support for the Palestinians. And it was clear that this was exactly what would make Trump put the gun on the table. But Netanyahu suffered from blindness. Everything Israel could and should have done to score points, Netanyahu was forced to do only after Israel had already lost one point after another.
It’s doubtful whether Trump is the right man to save Israel from itself. But now, at least for the moment, he is the right man.