Behind the ongoing war lies a civil war: Israeli media
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An opinion piece in Haaretz suggests that "Israel's" ongoing war serves to delay the potential internal erosion of the Israeli entity.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens to a question from a member of the audience at the Center for American Progress in Washington, on November 10, 2015. (AP)
A piece published by Haaretz on Monday examines Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political standing, arguing that the war has "strengthened both him and his regime, contradicting democratic expectations, which suggest that after a major failure, the public should hold the elected prime minister accountable, potentially leading to dismissal or resignation."
The piece indicates that a significant factor is the prior weakening of "Israeli democracy" by the time of Al-Aqsa Flood, explaining that "this erosion of foundational norms is evident in the inability to hold Netanyahu accountable for his refusal to resign following his indictment."
The report indicates that, in the aftermath of the war, the occupation does not lead to "a harmonious and prosperous existence." Instead, it suggests the imminent threat of civil war, which has been hovering over the occupation for some time. Moreover, it notes that settlers have unconsciously embraced the concept of the ongoing war, effectively pushing aside the possibility of a civil war.
The report explains that while the war serves Netanyahu's interests, it also benefits various sectors within "Israel". It highlights that the Kahanists and ultra-Orthodox have gained significantly, but a large number of settlers also desire what they call "unity."
While settlers have come to believe that this "unity" is essential for the entity's survival, the ongoing war is being used to pursue the underlying aim of maintaining that internal "unity," the report suggests, adding that instead of unity being a means to win a broader war, the war itself is "being leveraged to foster and enforce that unity within the nation".
The Israeli occupation has chosen this concept of "unity" at a high price, by sacrificing the captives, losing soldiers every day, and affecting the economy, according to the report.
Behind the ongoing war lies another war
The Haaretz piece states that the call for a so-called "second war of independence" has emerged—though perhaps unconsciously—from a fear of civil war.
It emphasizes that the war cannot endure indefinitely, suggesting that the internal settler unity is increasingly weakening. Meanwhile, it observes that settler violence and the occupation of the West Bank continues to escalate, adding to the ongoing turmoil.
Read next: Boiling pot: 'Israel's' ideological discord
It also says that the occupation is spreading to the northern part of the Strip, exacerbating the erosion of the "rule of law" under the leadership of figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Yariv Levin. Additionally, it highlights the troubling decline of the economy, which is driving hundreds of thousands out of the entity, while those who choose to stay will either live in fear or retreat into a "state of numb indifference".
Ultimately, the Haaretz piece asserts that the war will conclude when the domestic conflict is resolved, resulting in the defeat of the leftist faction, while suggesting that this scenario will transform the entity into a conscripted army—religious, autocratic, and fascist—functioning as a forward US military outpost in the Middle East.
