While television channels and social networks all over the world repeatedly broadcast the harsh scenes from the southern border, and while voices of jubilation and joy rose from Tehran, Damascus and Beirut, most Arab countries chose to wrap themselves in deep silence. The Arabs chose to act as if these were events that did not concern them, and in which they did not want to take part or take sides.
This is a deafening silence that testifies, first of all, to surprise, shock and disappointment over what happened, which is perceived for the time being as a resounding failure of Israel in the struggle against Hamas – a movement that is the vanguard of the radical and extremist forces in the Arab world, and in fact of madness and terror that threatens to drown the entire region in blood. No wonder the Arabs prefer to wait for what comes and see what the day brings.
True, as in the Second Lebanon War in July 2006, when the Arab world held our hands, today most Arab countries want Hamas defeated. The problem is that, unfortunately, they are no longer convinced, certainly after the events of last Saturday, that Israel – under whose eyes closed and in fact with its acquiescence, Hamas has established a magnificent military system over the past decades – has the ability or desire to defeat the terrorist organization.
Aware of their irrelevance and the fact that no one – neither in Jerusalem nor in Gaza – is listening to them, the Arab states therefore chose to take a good place in the gallery and made do with vague and vague announcements calling for quiet and calm, as if this were a conflict on a distant continent that did not concern them. But the other side of the coin is that this silence and disregard for what is happening in Gaza effectively gives Israel room to maneuver or even a flashing green light to act as it understands against Hamas, provided it takes action and, more importantly, achieves real results.
What interests Arab rulers is the stability of their rule at home, and the danger to this stability comes from the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas' sister movements, or from Iran, the patron of the terrorist organization in Gaza. The problem is that extremism and hatred of Israel have enough foolish followers in the Arab street, and the "victory pictures" from Gaza – temporary, hopefully – give a boost to this mob that seeks to convince itself, for the umpteenth time, that perhaps Israel is not invincible after all, and perhaps it can be defeated by blows like those inflicted on it by Hamas.
Even Mahmoud Abbas, who understands very well that an achievement for Hamas is not only a blow for Israel, but first and foremost a defeat for the Palestinian Authority, which could spell its demise. Therefore, Ramallah also fell silent in the face of the raging storm
Needless to say, such a state of mind and intoxication pose a threat not only to Israel, but first and foremost also to the moderate regimes in the Arab world, which will be the first target of trends of radicalization and madness in the region. This is also known by Mahmoud Abbas, who understands very well that an achievement for Hamas is not only a blow for Israel, but first and foremost a defeat for the Palestinian Authority, which could bring it to an end. Therefore, Ramallah also fell silent in the face of the raging storm.
But after we have been embarrassed by the backing of our friends in the Arab world, we must remember and remind ourselves that the Middle East is a nation of the strong, and it is not customary to show mercy or show patience for displays of weakness. Israel has won the hearts of the Arab world in recent decades by standing firm and resolute against Iran and demonstrating impressive military, operational, and intelligence capabilities against its enemies. But all this collapsed abruptly, unfortunately, last Saturday morning.
It is still too early to assess the damage caused to the peace-building that Israel and its friends in the Arab world have been trying to establish in recent years, and it is important to remember that this is a vital interest for both sides, which in the past managed to overcome difficulties and difficult obstacles in their path. It is also too early to predict whether the sense of achievement and intoxication of power in Beirut will sweep Nasrallah to unleash all restraints and ignite a fire in the north. In the meantime, he continues to proceed cautiously, but there is no telling what the day will bring. However, what is clear is that the Arab world is watching in amazement what is happening and waiting for Israel to come to its senses and strike at Hamas, and woe betide us if this is not what we do.
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