Despite all of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s many accomplishments, which should be recognized and appreciated, the Israel-Hamas War happened on his watch and, therefore, the war to defeat Hamas is on his shoulders, and it will define his legacy.
The war didn’t start with him. however.
It began when the Muslim Brotherhood founded Hamas in 1988, during the First Intifada. Hamas’s primary and immediate goal was to prevent any acceptance of Israel.
That’s why Hamas opposed the Oslo Accords and encouraged Yasser Arafat, chairman of the terrorist Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to reject offers of statehood. Hamas also launched the Second Intifada, featuring thousands of suicide bombers – considered shahids (“martyrs”), a behavior typical of those who followed its ideology.
The expulsion of Jews from the Gaza Strip and withdrawal of the IDF in 2005 (“Disengagement”) was followed by clashes between the PA/PLO and Hamas in Gaza, which Hamas won, establishing a mini-state under its control.
Supported by Qatar and others, Hamas built a fortress entity with an elaborate tunnel system and, within a few years, had created a formidable army.
By 2012, Hamas was able to attack Israel with missiles, and, although the IDF responded, it did not eliminate the terror group or its military structure.
Many Gazans worked in Israel
Israel’s policy was to allow Hamas as an alternative to the PA/PLO. During peaceful periods, many Gazans worked in Israel, and most Israeli leaders believed that Hamas could be convinced to avoid conflicts and build its mini-state.
Without a Commission of Inquiry, it’s difficult to know who to blame for what happened on October 7, 2023. Since Netanyahu was the prime minister, it’s logical to assume that he is mainly responsible for Israeli policy, though many security and military leaders were also responsible for policies and for the way in which Israel conducted its war against Palestinian terrorism.
While wars are terrible, they often define reality and offer clarity. Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, however, is complicated. It’s not only against a military foe, since Hamas also represents a Jihadist ideology that many Muslims share, considering it a “holy war” against all non-Muslims – considered infidels.
Netanyahu’s dilemma in the war in Gaza is that while Israel can contain Hamas as a military force, and hopefully, neutralize and perhaps even defeat it, Hamas has survived. It’s well established in all UNRWA-supported refugee “camps” and works with the PA in Gaza.
Only a matter of time
If Gaza is reconstructed as a Palestinian state, it’s only a matter of time before Hamas returns. If the IDF remains in Gaza, the international community will be furious. The challenge is enormous.
Thinking counterintuitively, Netanyahu’s experience and perspective are unique; his determination and strong personality can provide the leadership that is necessary for stability and to defeat Hamas. His coalition is united and capable. Although many are unhappy with what he does, his critics offer no coherent strategy for ending the war and providing a vision for our future.
Calling this war “Bibi’s War” may be unfair, but it should help us focus on what is at stake. Despite making mistakes, we have also learned from them. The IDF can and must end the war in Gaza decisively. Jews and Jewish communities in the Land of Israel and around the world can and must be protected. These are our priorities; they are essential to Israel’s survival.
The trauma of October 7 remains painful, yet Israeli society seeks to cope with its consequences and to heal. This tests our resolve, our commitment, and our faith. That is what makes this more than just “Bibi’s War.”
The writer is a PhD historian, writer, and journalist.