Why Israel Attacked Gaza
- Recently, the continuation of differences in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, with other members of the coalition government and the parliament on the issue of the budget, caused Netanyahu to dissolve the parliament and hold early elections.
- This demand was brought to vote in the parliament and, in the end, members of the parliament agreed with the dissolution of the parliament and holding early parliamentarian elections with 100 votes. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, officially asked the parliament to select and ratify January 22nd as the date for the next elections.
- The coalition government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which has held power in Israel since 2009, and his Likud Party enjoy a better situation in the polls compared to his rivals. But this does not mean that he and his party will be able to hold the majority of the parliament to form a coalition government.
- On this basis, he needs effective measures to gain undecided and silent votes, one of which could be attacking Gaza so that he can show the people that only Netanyahu and his party fellows, more than any other individual or party, have a supportive outlook towards the people of Israel and defend them against any threat, even through pre-emptive strikes.
- Usually, considering the ruling prejudicial and nationalistic view among the people of Israel, such measures on the wake of the elections, can be effective in gaining votes to the advantage of the party which has issued the order of attack.
- Therefore, considering the domestic differences and also the weakening of the position and status of Israel in the region and the world, particularly after the developments of the Islamic Awakening which led to the coming to power of popular and revolutionary governments, the majority of which have an anti-Israeli outlook, the Israeli officials had no other option but to reconstruct their lost legitimacy among the people of Israel by starting a new conflict.
- By beginning a new round of missile attacks and air raids against the Gaza Strip and killing the oppressed people of Palestine, Netanyahu intends to show the Israelis that he is a man to count on in difficult times and can, in historical moments, make determining decisions.
- Of course, victory in the game which Netanyahu and his government have started is not guaranteed and in case of continuation of the conflicts between the two sides and the launch of more missiles by Hamas and the Islamic Jihadists over the so-called Iron Dome of Israel, the page can be turned against the Likud Party.
- During recent days, the launch of Hamas middle-range missiles inside the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, created a wave of concern among the people of Israel with regard to the inefficiency of the so-called Iron Dome, which in turn led to over-crowded airports which are filled with worried people who intend to escape the occupied territories.
- Therefore, if Netanyahu and his government cannot win this game and, like previous wars such as the 33-day war, are forced to retreat and accept defeat, they not only cannot achieve the majority in the parliament, but they should also have doubts about achieving a minimal victory in this election.
- In the recent US presidential election, Netanyahu and his government officially and publicly supported Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate.
- Although the Obama administration did not want or was not able to establish warm and sincere relations with the Netanyahu government as the Israelis expected during the past four years, the open and official support for Romney has increased the possibility of existing relations getting worse.
- On this basis, in order to revive bilateral relations, Netanyahu had no other option but to seek the US’ support for his regime through showing that it is the victim of rocket attacks, justifying the military attack against the Gaza Strip.
- Despite differences between the leaders of the US and Israel which should not be taken seriously, Netanyahu immediately contacted Washington following the Israeli invasion of Gaza and informed Obama of the reasons behind the attacks in order to compensate for his support for Romney.
- Therefore, if Israel cannot achieve victory in this war, Netanyahu has still achieved victory because he has again attained American support for Israel which was to a certain degree reduced because of the fact that they had openly and officially supported one of the candidates in US presidential election due to the imprudent behavior of Israeli officials.
- The conditions for an Israeli land assault against Gaza are not appropriate at all because first, at the moment, and despite the existing propaganda on recalling 75000 reserve military forces in Israel, only 15000 have at most been absorbed. Second, contrary to the past, Hamas is in the possession of winning cards, one of which is medium-range missiles called Fajr5. Other winning cards will be publicized through Palestinian actions in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.