by B. R. GOWANI
Israel is a miniature copy of the US
foundationally, violently, temperamentally, colonially, …
no doubt, the colonizer Israel is the winner, as Anis Shiwani points out
and why wouldn’t it be?
when the world’s most powerful and utmost violent country backs you
tens of billions of dollars in military and other aid it gives
monster US aircraft carriers protect
so Netanyahu’s agreeing for a ceasefire <1> with Hezbollah was unusual
(pretty soon, perhaps, Netanyahu will cease war on Palestinians too)
despite the fact that majority of Israelis are not in favor of peace
60% of Israelis believe Israel lost the war against Hezbollah
but then again, Netanyahu had no choice — he had to: for multiple reasons
On Oct 7, 2023, occupied Gaza’s Palestinian leaders attacked Israel
Israel, the occupying power, viciously retaliated
with all its might & total commitment of US help
Israel’s war on Gaza’s Palestinians is still going on
Lebanon’s Hezbollah, no match for Israel, came to Gazans’ help
they suffered a lot but they also inflicted some pain and damage on Israel
as ceasefire neared, Israel bombed Beirut mercilessly on 23 & 26 Nov 2024
Hezbollah attacked Israeli cities with about 300 missiles
Israeli settlers, about 4 million, had to take shelter in the bunkers
in North Israel, about a million people were displaced due to war
the war has devastated Gaza and parts of Lebanon
it has also taken a toll on Israelis — much less but toll nonetheless
another reason for Netanyahu’s ceasefire are the ICC arrest warrants:
in May 2024, the ICC charged Netanyahu & Gallant with war crimes
on Nov 21, the ICC issued an order for the arrest of Netanyahu & Gallant
Canada, many European & other countries have said they will comply
Israel is not a state party to the Rome Statute and yet …
Netanyahu’s office issued the following statement
“If the court rejects this request, it will further demonstrate to Israel’s friends in the United States and around the world how biased the International Criminal Court is against the State of Israel.”
it’s a lame argument or, more appropriately, a desperate plea
Netanyahu has realized, lately though, that he can’t travel everywhere
he could be arrested in unexpected places
also, his extreme brutal war could achieve only so much …
another reason for prolonging the Gaza atrocities
was to save his ass domestically from various crimes and corruption cases
well,
the cases are still there and he’ll have to face them …
the occupied Palestinians & their supporters have weakened …
but they have not disappeared & will surely re-emerge — sooner or later
another reason: the confirmed arrival of his friend Donald Trump
Trump did a lot for Israel last time and will do much more this time too
however, Trump has to also keep his promise of ending wars …
Netanyahu has played a bully in the Middle East & with US leaders
now imagine Trump, as president, orders Netanyahu to end the war
that would be very embarrassing and humiliating for Netanyahu
Netanyahu is very clever, he wants to end the wars before Trump arrives
thus he avoids any confrontation with Trump …
permitting Trump to boast: “See, I had told you, I’ll establish peace.”
Note
<1> France and the US were behind the ceasefire deal
after WWI, France had the League of Nations Mandate for Lebanon
France still plays an influential role in that country
thru the ceasefire deal, US is back in Lebanon, totally it had never left
in Oct 1983, 241 US marines/soldiers were killed in a bomb blast in Beirut
the US never learns — the vicious cycle of death & perpetual war continues
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com