WASHINGTON – Few in the Israeli political establishment are now invested in the project of forging peace with the Palestinians; even fewer Israelis seem interested in affording Palestinians self-determination or an independent state, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
That includes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been in office longer than any other Israeli leader, prides himself on undermining the prospects of a “two-state” solution and is now driving a war in Gaza that has flattened much of the tiny Palestinian territory and killed tens of thousands of people.
Amid a growing domestic and international clamor for a cease-fire, Netanyahu’s critics argue he would rather prolong the war to assuage his far-right allies (and keep hold of power) than clinch a deal that stops hostilities and frees the remaining hostages in Hamas captivity — that he is, in other words, missing opportunities.
In a speech Monday, Netanyahu doubled down on his vow to continue the war.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden voiced his frustrations with Netanyahu not doing enough to get a deal.
“Continuation of the current operations in Gaza will not lead to the destruction of Hamas” wrote Graham Allison, a Harvard University professor, and Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israel’s defense intelligence, in Foreign Affairs.
“Israel’s economy will continue to deteriorate; its status in the world will continue falling to new lows; and the legal battle in international courts will intensify,” he added.
