Israel is fighting a difficult battle on the same public opinion field.Although Israel has the right to self -defense, it should do its best to abide by the International Humanitarian Law.This means minimizing the losses of civilian life as much as possible, while ensuring that drugs, food and fuels continue to enter Gaza.Maintaining such restraint will ease the extensive political anger that Israel will continue to crack down on Hamas, and it will also reduce the possibility of expanding conflicts to regional wars.
After Hamas committed atrocities on October 7, Israel has the right and reasons to carry out continuous military operations aimed at disintegrating this terrorist organization.The Israelites also seem to be determined to do so.
However, they also need to pay attention to the warning of the US President Biden.During his visit to Tel Aviv on October 18, Byndon's anger on Israel was the same.He said: "I understand, many Americans also understand." But Biden also suggested that the Israelites should not be swallowed by their anger.He warned: "After the September 11th incident, the United States was angry. We sought justice and extended justice, but we also made mistakes." Two days later, Bayeng appealed to the Israeli government again in a TV speech during the golden period.Don't be blinded by anger. "
If Israel obeys Biden's suggestion, how should I act?What lessons should the Israeli government from the strategic errors made by the United States after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001?
First of all, Israel should use its military capabilities to combat narrow military goals, that is, Hamas leaders, command centers, weapon hiding places and tunnels, but should not be fantasized that brute force can achieve the expected political results.In Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States is painfully recognized that although advantageous military power helps to eliminate opponents, it rarely achieves expected political goals.
Although the United States paid a high price in the 1920s, Afghanistan returned to the hands of Taliban, while Iraq was plagued by political paralysis and social division.Although Israel has no choice but to use force to eliminate Hamas, it must use other means, such as diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and economic opportunities to affect the next situation.
Be ready for the stop of the war
Secondly, although Israel's military operations may still be in early stages, policy makers must start the management of the Hamas era after planning.The United States is caught off guard after destroying the old order in Iraq and Libya; not ready to establish a new order, it will only bring confusion.
Israel now need to prepare for the day after the battle stops.Will it expect Palestinian power institutions to manage Gaza?What role will the United Nations play?Is it more meaningful?It's time to start to solve these problems.
Third, even if Israel began to take strong military operations against Hamas, it should limit the tangible and damage to Gasha as much as possible; otherwise, it may cause long -term pain to suffer the remaining population.Even society collapsed.
The United States has disbanded Iraq's government agencies unwisely, and laid the root cause of the chaotic, tenacious Sunni rebellion and the increasing Iranian influence.Despite the lesson of the poor ending of Iraq, NATO continues to destroy Libya's political foundation, which has led to a failed country that is used by extremist organizations and continued to be divided by tribal forces.If Israel razed most of Gaza's areas, radicals and violence extremism may emerge from the ruins.
In the end, Israel must fight for a long time, and must keep in mind that the United States is still undergoing the lasting damage caused by its error in the Middle East strategy.The overthrow of the Iraqi government has strengthened the power of Iran. It now has a strong agent in the entire area, including Hamas.After the United States withdrew, Afghanistan fell into a nightmare of humanitarianism.
In addition, the reputation of the United States has not yet been abused from Abraglab's prisoner, reports on the "rough" interrogation method of the Central Intelligence Agency, the prisoners who detained prisoners at the Guanota Bay in Cuba, and no one who took away the lives of innocent civilians many timesThe machine attack recovered.These and other practices have been irritable to defile the image of the United States in world public opinion.
Israel is fighting a difficult battle on the same public opinion field.Although Israel has the right to self -defense, and the murder and abduction of Hamas's commitment should be retaliated, the Israelites should do their best to abide by the International Humanitarian Law.This means minimizing the losses of civilian life as much as possible, while ensuring that drugs, food and fuels continue to enter Gaza.
Maintaining this restraint will ease the extensive political anger that Israel will continue to crack down on Hamas.This will also reduce the possibility of conflict expansion to regional wars; making Israel more likely to maintain an Abraham agreement with the Arab Emirates, Barin, Morocco and Sudan; and eventually enable Israel and Saudi Arabia to restore normal diplomatic negotiations.
Israel's war behavior in Gaza will also decide the tone of the future relationship with Palestine's society.Hamas's impressive attacks and a new round of violence caused by it showed that the previous state was not maintained.Given that the Israelites and the Palestinians live in the same area, unless the Palestinians are safe, the Israelites will never be safe, vice versa.The people of the two countries must eventually work together to ensure that the two countries that bring long -lasting peace.Perhaps the tragedy of the current conflict can make the Israeli and the Palestinians recognize this reality.
Author Charles A. Kupchaan is a senior researcher at the American Foreign Relations Association, a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University
English Original Title: Israel ’s 9/11 Moment
All rights reserved: Project syndicate, 2023.
