Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Ghalibaf: Israeli aggression against countries targeted by global arrogance confirms that Damascus will not be the last Islamic capital to be targeted.
Ghalibaf: Iran stresses its support for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf: Amid Israeli aggression on Damascus, we assert that Iran always stands on the side of the Syrian people.
US Embassy in Syria: Barrack and Abdi discussed practical steps toward integration into a unified Syria and agreed that the time for unity has come
US Embassy in Syria: US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack met today with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi
US Embassy in Syria: Barrack-Abdi meeting discussed the current situation in Syria and the need to take urgent steps to restore stability
Al-Hijri: We call on the guarantor states of the ceasefire agreement to fulfill their pledges to halt this attack and impose direct international protection for the Druze of Syria
Al-Hijri: It is unfortunate and shameful that the other party is not abiding by the ceasefire and that the hostile gangs continue to commit shameful crimes
Spiritual Leadership of the Druze Unitarian community, headed by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri: We call on the guarantors of the ceasefire in Sweida to shoulder their responsibilities
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One was killed in the raid carried out by an Israeli drone on a motorcycle in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif

It's America, not 'Israel' who wants a ceasefire

  • Tom Fowdy Tom Fowdy
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 22 Aug 2024 12:50
  • 7 Shares
5 Min Read

We should see ceasefire attempts as a superficial American-imposed effort, rather than a true desire of Netanyahu’s government.

Listen
  • x
  •  The US wants damage control, but Netanyahu wants conflict because it is in his political interest to do so. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)
    The US wants damage control, but Netanyahu wants conflict because it is in his political interest to do so. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

The United States is aggressively attempting to broker a ceasefire in the war on Gaza, and has devoted immense diplomatic activity towards achieving this goal, with Antony Blinken having visited Tel Aviv numerous times. The administration is insisting that such a deal is “close”, with Biden stating, “We are closer than we have ever been" despite the minimal evidence of such. There is, of course, one fundamental flaw in this claim: Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has no desire for such a ceasefire, and it stands contrary to all his goals.

First, it should be understood that the push for a ceasefire is strictly an American goal motivated by domestic political needs. Biden wants to try and freeze the war and kick the can down the road as he seeks to avoid criticism for his unconditional backing of Netanyahu. His strategy is to prevent politically damaging fallout for the Democratic Party in the run-up to the Presidential election. If he can do so, he can claim victory, deflect criticism, and have the issue sidelined for his successor Kamala Harris. America’s need is therefore motivated by optics rather than seriously attempting to change Tel Aviv’s behaviour, which it is unlikely to do under any circumstances.

Secondly, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu sees a ceasefire as political suicide which can usher in the end of his political career. Netanyahu has shaped his war goals around sustaining the backing of the most hardline Zionists in his government, and thus has set the line at the total destruction of Hamas and the subsequent military occupation of the Gaza Strip. To relent to a ceasefire agreement at this stage would thwart his political goals, which are being sustained by resorting to perpetual conflict and escalation. It is for this reason that Netanyahu has sought to escalate with Hezbollah and Iran, which has also allowed him to leverage support from the USA.

Related News

Record advances for Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine while neo-Nazi ideology continues its rise in Kiev

Concentration camps and the road to exile: Gaza as a laboratory of privatized genocide

Netanyahu thus sees his political survival as contingent on changing the political status quo and has publicly issued promises to this end. Aiming to completely end the “two-state solution”, he wants to bring the Gaza Strip under the same regime as the West Bank, whereby it becomes an occupied territory under illegal, but de-facto military control, and thus dispossessed of any real sovereignty. Herein, he will utilise “salami slicing” strategies to gradually increase illegal settlement building in the territory and gradually squeeze out and displace the local population over a long-term basis.

In order to lay the grounds for this future trajectory, he must continually claim that "Israel" is under existential threat by its enemies, which allows him to sideline both his domestic and international critics. Thus, his goal has been to escalate and exacerbate the conflict, rather than seek its resolution. Although the US diplomatic effort is trying to restrain him, seeking primarily to avoid an all-out regional war, This allows Netanyahu to manipulate the situation to his advantage, thereby compelling a tacit acceptance of his objectives and altering the status quo. This has been evident through his deliberate efforts to provoke Iran, which are designed to provoke retaliations and force the US into the position of being obligated to protect Tel-Aviv, shutting down those opposed to him.

Thus, while the US is engaging to try and prevent this worst-case scenario, Netanyahu has little appetite for a ceasefire. For him, to agree to such a solution would constitute working towards peace and thus affirm a return to the previous status quo in a compromise with other parties. Netanyahu’s office has repeatedly made it clear, even amidst these talks, that all of his political goals will be achieved regardless. As included in a recent CNN report, “The Prime Minister has strongly insisted on this fundamental demand, which is vital to achieving the goals of the war,” a statement from his office said Sunday. “The Prime Minister will continue to work on advancing a deal that will maximize the number of living hostages and which will enable the achieving of all of the war objectives.”

Therefore, we should see ceasefire attempts as a superficial American-imposed effort, rather than a true desire of Netanyahu’s government. The US wants damage control, but Netanyahu wants conflict because it is in his political interest to do so in view of changing the status quo. In this case, such talks can scarcely be called optimistic. Netanyahu wants and seeks victory on his own terms, not compromise.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • United States
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Joe Biden
  • Israel
  • Gaza
  • war on Gaza
  • Gaza ceasefire
Tom Fowdy

Tom Fowdy

British journalist, columnist, and political analyst, with a specialist focus on Asia topics. He resides in South Korea.

War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

All
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Donald Trump, the Corporate Aristocracy and the Israelization of the World

Donald Trump, the Corporate Aristocracy and the Israelization of the World

  • Opinion
  • 15 Jul 2025
Zionist infiltration of entertainment industry: The case of United Talent Agency

Zionist infiltration of entertainment industry: The case of United Talent Agency

  • Opinion
  • 11 Jul 2025
Understanding Yemen 2/2: Ansar Allah values

Understanding Yemen 2/2: Ansar Allah values

  • Opinion
  • 7 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Netanyahu has already fallen into the trap of a huge cat and mouse, or a “whack-a-mole” game, which is hugely costly and simply unsustainable. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Ali Al-Hadi Shmeiss)

Netanyahu has gravely miscalculated invading Lebanon

Britain's Arms Restrictions are symbolic yet send a meaningful message

Britain's Arms Restrictions are symbolic yet send a meaningful message

Essentially, the game goes “You have done X against us, therefore we will salami slice your land further.” (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

West Bank attacks lay bare what Netanyahu's endgame is for Palestinian territories

Understanding Netanyahu's playbook of escalation for political gain

Understanding Netanyahu's playbook of escalation for political gain

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS