The article argues that Israel’s ‘Hamas is deterred’ mindset has failed, leading to a misguided focus on Iran as the primary enemy post-October 7 attacks. It contends that the real threat stems from radical ideologies that drive groups like Hamas, which require a different strategic approach than conventional military tactics. Gaza must be prioritized to challenge jihadist ideologies effectively, impacting broader Western security strategies.
Israel’s leaders have clung to the belief that Hamas is deterred, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary following the devastation of October 7. This misconception, rooted in an economic perspective, fails to acknowledge Hamas’s ideology as its driving force. Instead, Israeli security strategy has shifted to focus on Iran as the primary adversary, promoting the notion that eliminating its influence will resolve regional threats. However, this interpretation overlooks the fundamental challenge posed by radical ideology that transcends geographic borders.
The current strategy, referred to as the ‘Head of the Snake’ doctrine, establishes Iran as the core enemy, directing all military focus and resources towards it. Yet, Iranian leaders themselves prioritize ideological victory over national interests, viewing Iran merely as a means to fulfill a global jihadist agenda. Consequently, the true danger lies in the religious ideology that fuels groups like Hamas, which cannot be dismantled through traditional military approaches alone.
The real test for Israel and the West lies in how effectively they can confront radical Islam in Gaza. Failure to secure a decisive victory there sends a message of vulnerability to jihadist groups worldwide. Such outcomes could have severe implications, as the West struggles to define victory and control over territorial conflicts, often failing to confront ideological warfare because of concerns about religious freedoms.
Moreover, the pressing threat of jihadism around Israel is immediate and requires a military that can establish land control and subdue populations. This necessitates a well-equipped ground force, akin to historical precedents set in World War II, to effectively contend with radical movements. With Israel’s leadership retreating from Gaza, strategic discussions between figures like Netanyahu and Trump risk perpetuating the flawed focus on Iran and Saudi Arabia, potentially overlooking the actual source of conflict.
The article critiques the Israeli government’s strategic assessment of its enemies post-October 7 crisis, emphasizing a misplaced focus on Iran over the real ideological threat posed by groups like Hamas. It argues for a reevaluation of threats based on ideology rather than state-centric views, highlighting the need for effective military strategies to combat radical Islam, particularly in Gaza. This analysis highlights the inadequacies in understanding and countering radical ideologies that drive violent extremism, urging leaders to place Gaza at the forefront of strategic discussions, rather than prioritizing Iran as the principal threat. It positions the conflict in Gaza as crucial to demonstrating the West’s capacity to confront and defeat radical Islamic ideologies, which have broad implications for global security.
The overarching theme of the article posits that Israel’s current security strategy is misaligned with the nature of its true enemies, focusing disproportionately on Iran rather than confronting the ideological underpinnings of groups like Hamas that directly threaten Israel’s existence. The failure to achieve a decisive victory in Gaza signals broader implications for Western approaches to radicalism. A paradigm shift towards recognizing ideology as the primary adversary is essential for Israel and the West to secure their national and regional interests.
Original Source: www.jpost.com
