Cutting the Gordian knot

How to break the brutal Hamas-Israel face-off is proving as difficult as the search for the Holy Grail. It defies solution. Not even the two-state resolution agreeing on the Oslo Accords (1993 and 1995) has resolved it. The world does not want, though, to negotiate and mediate for peace. But this is one case where the inutility of the United Nations is most profound. This should not, however, deter peace advocates from continuing to explore avenues for settlement. Meantime, it has deteriorated into a sanguinary war.

The bestiality of the war, without regard to civilians, women, and children, has world opinion shifting in favor of the besieged Palestinians. In fact, Israel’s Big Brother, the United States, feeling the weight of public opinion, both global and at home, against the reckless and gory campaign by Israel, has softened its support for the war of retribution.

The UN, despite its resolution being ignored by Israel, has not slackened in the pursuit of its mandate as a peace-making body and delivering assistance to the victims of the humanitarian crisis. And every opinion writer has a word or two on how to break the impasse.

Amid the frenzy to find an immediate resolution to the war of annihilation against the Palestinians, many opinion writers posit that one man stands in the way — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The hawkish ultra-rightist leader has a hideous personal agenda for the vicious campaign. He believes prolonging the war is the only way to save his political career. That historically, nations don’t change their leader during a war; that you don’t change horses in midstream.

Recall that before the 7 October attack by Hamas, Netanyahu was embroiled in corruption cases, which many anticipated would defang him and send him packing from the Prime Minister’s office. He is an accused in three cases of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which is why he devised a campaign to undermine and limit the power of the judiciary to review cases of abuse by the government and Knesset (parliament).

His feud with the judiciary was so intense that there were demonstrations against his policies limiting the judicial power of review, which would save him from the gallows. Many predicted the end of his political career. But 7 October happened, and he saw it as a way to continue his near-dictatorial rule. Like John Wayne, he is back in the saddle and is rallying his troops to fight a pernicious war.

Incidentally, last week, the Israeli Supreme Court came out with a decision declaring the law passed by the Knesset illegal, substantially limiting the judicial power to review the “reasonableness” of laws and actions by the government and the parliament. It was a big blow to Netanyahu and complicates his woes.

Israelis are now coming to their senses after being stupefied by the Hamas attack. They now blame Netanyahu for his failure to protect them and for the breakdown in the government intelligence network to anticipate the attack.

In fact, it is coming out now that his government had helped strengthen Hamas to counterbalance the growing popularity of Hezbollah, in a classic case of divide and rule. To top it all, there are protests against his failure to bring home the hostages taken by Hamas, and the people are calling for an election. These factors seemingly come together to pave the way for his exit.

In other words, his aggressiveness, ferocity, and condescending bravado are nothing but attempts at self-preservation. It’s a human reaction to a personal danger. Vengeance and the safety of the Israelis are secondary. He is a hero unto himself, not to the Israelis. And the best way to settle the impasse and stop the senseless bombing is to get Netanyahu out of the way. This is the observation of many people from the outside looking in.

The Gordian knot will likely be cut with Netanyahu out of the way.

amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com