'Israel is spiraling' amid Gaza war, internal fractures: The Nation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Nation
12 May 2025 23:35

Writer Ori Goldberg notes a widening gap between the far-right's explicit calls for ethnic cleansing and the general public's need to justify violence through more palatable narratives.

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Israelis gather ahead to watch a live broadcast in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander being released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP)

A compelling opinion piece published by Israeli writer Ori Goldberg for The Nation on Monday paints a grim picture of "Israel's" current trajectory, arguing that the occupation is caught in a self-destructive spiral driven by its war on Gaza and extremist political factions within its own leadership.

Goldberg, an Israeli political analyst, asserts that senior officials like Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are openly pursuing policies of permanent occupation and the removal of Palestinians, both in Gaza and beyond. "What could 'removal' mean but genocide?" Goldberg asks, warning that such rhetoric exposes the underlying reality of Israel's campaign.

While much of Israeli society supports military action under the pretext of "security," Goldberg notes a widening gap between the far-right's explicit calls for ethnic cleansing and the general public's need to justify violence through more palatable narratives. "Security, in this context, means that Israelis are allowed to kill as many people as deemed necessary (including civilians) to keep their own lives safe," he writes.

Fractured Leadership

Goldberg also highlights growing internal dissent, pointing to signs of disillusionment within Israeli society and the military. He cites Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir's recent warnings about endangering captives and his unprecedented call to draft thousands of ultra-Orthodox men as indicators of eroding trust in the government.

Internationally, Goldberg noted "Israel's" increasing isolation. He notes that the US under Donald Trump has distanced itself from Netanyahu, while the European Union has condemned "Israel's" planned occupation of Gaza. "The Israeli response has been brash, at best. At worst, it has been perceived as dissociative and full of hubris," he observes.

Concluding his analysis, Goldberg contends that Israel's current crisis is less the result of a grand strategy and more a manifestation of chaotic, short-sighted politics. "Israel's actions seem like the fruition of a plan hatched and elaborated over a long time. In many ways, they are the absolute opposite. Israel is spiraling," he writes.