Israel Stirs the Hornets Nest

What was left of the fragile cease fire between Israel and Hamas now lays strewn across the floor. It all came to an abrupt end as Hamas fired rockets deep into Israeli territory. The message being sent to the world by Israel is simple: they asked for it.

So the question being asked in response is as follows: just how far is Israel prepared to go? With Israeli tanks and troops massed just short of the border with Gaza it is worrying to predict what might happen. It seems that the dispute between Israel and Hamas has finally reached boiling point, not in the form of a heated argument this time, but all out war.

What are the consequences of such actions? Israel knows that it is not the most popular of nations in the Middle Eastern region but still dares to stir the hornets nest. We should be aware that Israel’s very existence is questioned and in extreme cases despised by the surrounding nations such as Jordan, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

Why then can Israel afford to be so bold? The answer to this question is simple. It has the backing of the most powerful nation on earth. The US. There is no ambiguity here. The US will continue to support Israel regardless of the threat the relationship poses to its national security.

This explains much of the Arab resentment towards the Western powers that support America and its relationship with Israel. What could be the repercussions of such actions against Hamas in Palestine? When civilian casualties in Gaza escalate, so will the Arab resentment, and the international pressure.

We must also be aware that our embassies and citizens are at risk around the world due to the aggressive actions taken by Israel. As every father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister in Gaza is killed or injured, resentment is felt amongst close relatives. Such action will not stamp out Hamas, and even if it were to do so, another radical and extreme organization would be born out of the rubble and ashes of Gaza.

Either Israel adopts Clausewitzian military theory and engages in war in order to completely eliminate the enemy and threat, which would certainly provoke international outrage, or it seeks to solve the underlying problems that are causing the conflict. Unfortunately, it seems the first option is the easier of the two ..