An Israeli expert on Iran and professor at Tel Aviv University, Litvak believes that Tehran and Hezbollah have chosen the “edge of the cliff” strategy, but have not yet decided on a wide-ranging war. Meanwhile, Israel is grappling with the “tragic dilemma” of the hostages.
Prime Minister of Israel Benyamin Netayahu? “I have always hated him. I don’t think he could be at the helm during the war. He proved his incompetence before the war, then in the way he postponed the formation of an emergency government and in his mishandling of the civilian aspects of the war“. This is what Meir Litvak, professor of Middle Eastern history and expert on Iran at Tel Aviv University, said when questioned about Netanyahu’s ability to wage war. “I would like it to be possible to replace him – he added – but not I see how this can happen in the current political situation.”
Interviewed by Adnkronos, Litvak also spoke about Iran’s role and the “tragic dilemma” facing Israel regarding the hostages. “I believe Iran and its allies have adopted the ‘walking to the edge’ strategy. They raise the stakes against Israel by increasing small-scale attacks from Lebanon and utter harsh threats, but I’m not sure they’ve made the decision for full war yet,” Livak reasons. “I’m not sure” that Iran and its allies “are interested” in a large war, “but they could decide in this sense if the situation in Gaza becomes desperate or if Israel remains bogged down in Gaza”, continues the expert, warning that, however, “these are all speculations that could turn out to be wrong.”
The hostage issue poses “a tragic dilemma” for Israel, also because if Hamas is not defeated the consequences for Israel’s position in the region will be “very serious”, explains Litvak.
“We’re caught in a tlogical dilemma, we cannot risk the lives of so many hostages, particularly women and children. At the same time – Litvak underlines – if this war were to end without a defeat for Hamas, it would be a ‘major strategic defeat’ for Israel. This would have serious consequences for our position in the region, that is, for the belief that we are here to stay, which pushes Arab countries to accept us as a fait accompli and stop fighting us. Sand there is the perception that we have been defeated, this would translate into a strong push for radical organizations, both Shiite and Sunni, to fight us to eliminate us.”
Furthermore, the teacher notes, if Hamas is not defeated this will also mean abandoning the inhabitants of the kibbutzim on the border with the Strip “with very serious consequences on the internal level”. (by Maria Cristina Vicario)
Source-www.adnkronos.com