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Opinion "Dawn": Lapid won, under lenient conditions Israel today

2022-08-08T19:02:25.375Z


The Prime Minister successfully passed the first matriculation test in office, and may even be able to leverage this for achievements in the field of captives and missing persons • But there is no doubt that the lack of opposition during the fighting, the American support and the weakness of Hamas contributed to the results of the round


Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who has only been in office for a month, can take credit for a masterful conduct in the ongoing round of fighting against Gaza.

Lapid recognized his own limitations - an important feature in his position - and relied on the experienced Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who was the dominant factor in the management of Operation "Dawn" in the security aspect of course, but also in the political aspect.

Lapid, Gantz, and also Naftali Bennett who played a significant role in the discussions, knew when to enter the campaign and when to leave it.

They were not pressured by the public criticism last week of the "curfew" imposed on the southern settlements, were not frightened by Hezbollah's threats and did not give in to the demands of the Islamic Jihad.

Luck also played their part - a war in Israel was not suitable for Hamas now, so the scope of the conflict was limited in advance, and this is a very lenient condition compared to the past.

Lapid sums up the "Dawn": "All the objectives of the operation were achieved" // Credit: L.A.M.

During and after the operation, Lapid knew how to say the right things, and this is a point of merit.

Last night, both he and Gantz tried in their speeches to rake in political capital for a successful operation, and to play on patriotic feelings.

But Lapid's visibility and ability to express himself surpass those of Gantz.

That's how it is when one was trained on the battlefields and the other in the TV studios.


And there was another huge advantage that played into Lapid's hands.

Lapid and Gantz in the Gaza Division, photo: IDF spokesman

According to the well-known saying that "the right can make peace and the left can make war", Lapid had no opposition.

In a statement last night, the Prime Minister thanked "the opposition and opposition leader Netanyahu for showing responsibility and backing the government throughout the operation." With these words he described exactly what he did not do. Because Netanyahu, unlike Lapid, did not doubt the necessity of "Dawn" but backed it up, both internally and in the world media.

American backing

Three months before the elections, and although there was no approval from the cabinet, no one in Likud hinted that Lapid had embarked on an operation to improve his security image - claims heard against Netanyahu from politicians and left-wing journalists, in every security round.

Also anonymous briefings about "surrendering to the demands of the terrorists", which were hurled at Netanyahu more than once even though they were unsubstantiated, did not appear in the commentaries this time.

Lapid got a celebrity discount, we already know why.

Lapid - Netanyahu meeting,

But the other day, the statesmanship that Netanyahu used, was not responded to in the same currency by Lapid.

The Prime Minister's office deliberately released a different image than the one released by the opposition chairman's office from the meeting between the two.

Another critical background condition that Lapid was about to win is the American backing.

Although there is no certainty that Netanyahu would have received a shorter rope from Biden, it is clear that Lapid enjoys the continued sympathy of the American president, both for him personally and for his government.

Although the short battle is over, the results of the campaign are not final.

From Gantz's and Kochavi's point of view, the "Zabang and Gamarno" in front of Gaza sends a message to Nasrallah, otherwise he will deal with the Shark rig again.

In Israel they also noticed the weakness of Hamas.

The fearsome organization is unable to control its resentment of the Islamic Jihad, is wary of joining the conflict and needs the economic relief and resources from Israel.

Hamas also signals in every way its desire for a prisoner exchange deal.

So, for the first time since Operation Protective Edge in 2014, there may be a chance for flexibility on the part of the organization on the issue of prisoners and missing persons.

If luck continues to play for Lapid, and with some prayers, there is a chance that he will be the one to close the painful case of Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avra ​​Mengistu and Hisham A-Sayed.

The bottom line is that Israel came out of the operation with the upper hand.

The "journalist", as his opponents like to mock him, achieved no less good results than the "Bithonist".

The weekend polls will learn if the public intends to reward Lapid for this at the ballot box.

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-08-08

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