I will not call it arrogance; this is madness. The military strike in Doha targeting Hamas is a turning point. It has rung the alarm and presented lessons. The apprehensions it has fueled in the Gulf and across the Arab world are justified, isolating Netanyahu and the Israeli mindset that drives this madness.
Targeting a Gulf state allied to Washington that has been mediating negotiations at the request of the parties involved in the Gaza war, as Qatar’s foreign minister said, is an unjustifiable act of madness. Its political and military folly will isolate Israel internationally, even if that isolation might be silent.
By “silent isolation,” I mean that Netanyahu’s words and actions will not be trusted, regardless of the support he receives, specifically from the US administration whose efforts to build he has thwarted at every turn. These efforts cannot succeed, not through the Abraham Accords nor any other framework, unless there are real solutions to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Saudi Arabia, with France in a supporting role, led a significant diplomatic effort that has led the overwhelming majority to endorse the two-state solution and a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question at the UN - a genuine diplomatic victory in the face of all Nentyahu’s military madness.
Netanyahu has not only vanquished his regional opponents because of his country’s strength, the recklessness of those opponents is another crucial factor. Hamas and Hezbollah, and behind them Iran, Assad, and the Houthis, were not formidable adversaries. They drew strength from exploiting their enmity with Israel, occupying the region through slogans for decades. They did not have the courage to commit to even half a real battle against their enemy.
Politics undermines Netanyahu. The Palestinians’ divisions do more to empower him than the Palestinians’ weapons. Militias and belligerent rhetoric - in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, or even Yemen - empower him more than sensible discourse and the rule-of-law state. Regional schisms are the source of Netanyahu’s strength.
Today, Doha cannot trust Netanyahu, nor can Egypt. The region cannot take a step toward peace with Netanyahu in power. That does not necessarily entail greater tension and escalation; rather, it calls for more wisdom to avoid being dragged behind voices addicted to war and destruction.
It is cliche that you should not interrupt your enemy as he’s making mistakes. Netanyahu has not only made mistakes, he has committed blunders that will do Israel a lot of damage in the near and long term, both regionally and internationally, even domestically. Regardless of current levels of support, the Israeli public will remain furious so long as the hostages have not been returned.
Netanyahu has made many mistakes. Nothing justifies his folly in Doha, nor what he has done and continues to do in Syria. Since Assad’s fall, he has been seeking a new war that tears Syria apart and buries the nascent opportunity for stability and prosperity in Syria.
Netanyahu is playing for time. He is perpetuating conflict to evade justice and stay out of jail, where he belongs. He wants to destroy the Palestinian cause and Israel’s neighbors.
The best course of action is to build momentum for a two-state solution, secure international recognition of a Palestinian state, consolidate the Palestinian Authority, seek an end to the Gaza war, to support Syria, stabilize the Lebanese state, support legitimacy in Yemen, and keep Iran contained behind its borders, and prevent militias from making a comeback anywhere, under any pretext.
That is how we can defeat Netanyahu’s mad project for the region.
