Lasting peace is an illusion, Maj. Gen. (res.) Gershon Hacohen, former head of the General Staff Corps and commander of the IDF's 7th Armored Brigade, said on Sunday in an interview with 103FM, arguing that Israel and the region will continue to live under conditions of ongoing struggle.
Hacohen explained why, in his view, given current regional tensions, long-lasting, sustainable peace is unattainable under US President Donald Trump's current plan.
“We will continue to live under conditions of struggle," he said. "There is no such thing as stable peace that lasts forever. My starting point says that even Western Europe’s peace is temporary."
"There is no paradise for human beings on Earth."
He added that Israel must take on a broader view of regional dynamics. “We need to understand Turkey’s goals, which are operating alongside Saudi Arabia in the southern Red Sea, and how the Saudis fought the Emirates to push them out of southern Yemen and Somalia."
"There are strong regional struggles here. What is happening in Syria should be studied. The Turks, with full backing, are fighting in Syria,” Hacohen said.
Turning to Gaza, Hacohen expressed skepticism about the Peace Council’s intentions, saying that none of its members appear willing to disarm Hamas. “Hamas is present; it is arranging for itself a Hezbollah-like mode of existence. There will be a technocratic government, they will be in contact with the Peace Council, there will be economic momentum, and we are in some way returning to the days of October 6,” he said.
He further argued that, aside from Turkey, no external actor is eager to enter Gaza. “Palestinian forces from the West Bank will also enter, forces trained by the Egyptians and other actors who would certainly be happy to come in. But they must find themselves at a balance point that prevents friction with Hamas,” Hacohen said.
Israel must insist on controlling key areas
According to him, Israel must insist on maintaining control over key areas. “We must insist on the demand that we do not leave this space, which also includes controlling areas along our border line. We condition this demand on the fact that as long as we do not see real disarmament of Hamas, the IDF will remain present in positions, and we see a fairly effective presence there,” he said.
Addressing Iran and the possibility of a military strike, Hacohen said momentum had been lost. “It seems the momentum was lost at a point where it is hard to see how it returns. Donald Trump decided not to strike. The streets and the protests are under regime control. The regime acted without mercy to impose order in the streets,” he said.
Hacohen added that uncertainty remains. “I do not know whether there will be an attack; things could happen. When Ali Khamenei accuses Trump, he is playing on his sensitive nerves. We need to see how developments unfold.”