The latest round of fighting in the besieged Gaza Strip - when the Israeli military attempted a covert military operation even though the Egyptians were in the final stages of brokering a ceasefire between Palestinian armed factions and the Israeli government - proved that the Palestinians are capable of inflicting unprecedented damage on Israel. Israeli media presented statistics that were described as unprecedented and alarming from an Israeli perspective.

While the IDF killed seven Palestinians and attacked more than 160 targets - a recurring pattern - what was new this time was the Palestinian response: 460 rockets fired from Gaza in just 25 hours, causing extensive damage inside Israel, killing at least two people and injuring an unknown number. The media reported that the Iron Dome system intercepted only about 100 rockets, while the rest reached their targets, more accurate and destructive than ever before.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to France and halted military operations almost immediately, while Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman - the architect of the failed covert operation - resigned and accused Netanyahu and his government of cowardice.

Although characterizing any person or group as cowardly is subjective and inaccurate, Lieberman's accusation has deep implications, as it reveals the mindset of the ruling Zionist group. Opinion polls showed that a majority of Jews in Israel opposed the ceasefire and believed that the army should have bombarded Gaza more.

There is no doubt that Israel has always practiced the utmost brutality against Palestinians. The Israeli army is armed with the latest weapons and uses them against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip, killing thousands of women, men and children and destroying infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, water and electricity plants, places of worship and homes.

Israel is an exceptional society, established on usurped land by a United Nations resolution and following an ideology formed as a reaction to the persecution of Jews in Europe and Russia. With Jewish immigrants fleeing anti-Semitism, how can they be expected to sacrifice themselves in a country they do not call home?

The solution was to create an environment that makes the Israeli soldier special: Well-trained, well-armed, and a national hero, immune from legal accountability, as is the state itself. Israel, with primarily American support, seeks to maintain its military superiority in the region, allowing its soldiers to kill and destroy almost safely, and this has created a state of arrogance among Israelis.

When an Israeli soldier or civilian is killed, the shock is twofold: First for the loss of life, and second because it exposes the fragility of the "invincible force" image. The blame game soon begins: The authorities blame the "terrorists," the people blame the government, and the army conducts an "in-depth investigation" that always ends with an exoneration and a promise to "pay the price" to restore deterrence.

Recently, the Israeli army has suffered a series of military setbacks, especially in its confrontations with Palestinian factions, which have proven their effectiveness despite the lack of equipment compared to Arab armies. The Palestinian soldier, unlike the Arab, is self-motivated and not commissioned by an authoritarian regime, as is the case in most Arab countries that have signed peace agreements, are involved in civil wars, or are seeking to normalize with Israel, especially in the Gulf.

Thus, having once feared possible annihilation at the hands of Arab armies, Israel is now in a commanding position for a potential confrontation with Iran, its current main rival, while the Palestinian resistance represents a smaller but more costly threat. Arab public opinion may favor a confrontation with Iran, but it will not forgive a war against the Palestinians.

There are reports of a recent stopover of Netanyahu's plane in Pakistan on its way to Oman, followed by a speech in Pakistan's parliament by a member of the ruling party described as "pro-Jewish." Due to Pakistan's economic crisis, Imran Khan's government may consider revising its stance on Israel. Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla met Netanyahu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, insisting that the meeting was not planned. Clearly, he did not act alone.

Backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who desperately needs Israel's support in the wake of Jamal Khashoggi's murder, we may soon see the largest Muslim country knocking on Netanyahu's door. But any new military aggression on Gaza could undo all these gains.

However, the Gaza ceasefire may not hold for long. Most Israeli politicians build their popularity on presenting themselves as "men of iron" capable of preventing a new holocaust. To compete with rivals like Lieberman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu may find himself having to dive back into Palestinian blood.

Lieberman's resignation exposed Israel's fragility. Despite Netanyahu's so-called "diplomatic victories," a single military confrontation with the besieged Gaza Strip would have dealt a fatal blow to his government.

The simple conclusion from all of the above is that Israel does not survive because it is strong, but because it is adept at weakening its enemies... no matter what the cost.
Source: Middle East Monitor