An editorial in The Economist calls on Israel to continue its war against Hamas, as well as to provide humanitarian aid but under no circumstances agree to ceasefires. "The only way to peace lies in dramatically reducing Hamas' ability to use Gaza as a source of supplies and as a base for the army," the authors write. "Tragically, the only way to peace requires war."
"You are guilty of the omission": Hundreds protest in front of Netanyahu's home in Caesarea (Archive) // Yaron Doron
An article expected to be published in the upcoming issue of the important British newspaper this weekend describes the protests against the war banned by the IDF in Gaza.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lost confidence"
"When you listen to some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has lost confidence, call for revenge, many conclude that Israel's actions are disproportionate and immoral," The Economist writes.
"Many of those who hold these views believe in the need for a Jewish state, but fear a Jewish state in which Palestinian lives are worth so little... These are strong arguments, but they lead to the wrong conclusion," The Economist explains that the massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7 led to a violation of "the unique contract that Israeli citizens have with the state: to create a place where Jews will not be persecuted and murdered for being Jews."
The Economist cover,
"The state honored this contract over time... But over time, she also forgot that the Palestinians also deserve a state. Netanyahu strengthened Hamas in order to harm the Palestinian moderates... On October 7, all this was destroyed: the terrorists tore apart the basic contract by crushing the security doctrine created to protect it."
According to the editors, "The only way out of the cycle of violence is to destroy the Hamas regime – which means killing its senior officials and crushing its military infrastructure. The assumption that a war, in which thousands of innocents are killed, can lead to peace, may shock many... However, when Hamas rules Gaza, peace is not possible. Israelis will feel unprotected, and so Israel will strike Hamas every time it detects a threat. And the Palestinians, suffocated by Israel's security measures and serving as human shields for Hamas, will only become more radicalized. The only way forward is to weaken Hamas' control and at the same time create conditions for something new."
The Palestinians will need a moderate leader with a democratic mandate
According to The Economist, this "something" requires new leadership on both sides. "In Israel, Netanyahu will have to step down because his reputation as a security man has been destroyed. The sooner he leaves, the better. His successor will have to be given a mandate for a new security doctrine, which will also have to restrain the settlers, who are still harassing and killing Palestinians in the West Bank, while the Palestinians will need moderate leaders with a democratic mandate. At the moment, they don't have any."
Demonstration in support of Palestinians at Harvard, five days after the massacre, photo: AFP
"The second condition for peace is to provide security for Gaza. Israel will not be able to do this as an occupying power. Instead, Gaza needs an international coalition, perhaps with Arab states that oppose Hamas and its supporter, Iran. "All this," The Economist concludes, "leads back to the condition in which we began: a war that will weaken Hamas enough for something better to take its place."
They call for the establishment of real refuges for Gazans in southern Gaza, Egypt and even into the Negev, inside Israeli territory, and make it clear that ceasefires should never be reached. "Ceasefires are the enemies of peace because they will allow Hamas to continue to control the Gaza Strip and maintain its power.
Repeated breaks will increase the chances of its survival. No one knows if peace will come to Gaza. But for the sake of Israelis and Palestinians, it deserves the best chance. Stopping will eliminate him completely."
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