Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari affirmed today, Saturday, that victory in Gaza is not for those who kill more, take more prisoners, destroy more homes, or occupy more land, but for those who get closer to achieving their political goals. In an article published in the Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth," Harari noted that Hamas's political objectives are very clear and that some have already been achieved, while there is still time for it to achieve more, whereas Israel's goals are vague or non-existent.
Harari emphasized that Hamas has accomplished more than it hoped, successfully reaffirming animosity between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as between them and Arabs, destroying any future opportunities for normalization between the two sides, and instilling hatred of Israel in the minds of hundreds of millions around the world. He specifically pointed out the rise in anti-Israel sentiment globally and the unprecedented decline in its international standing, even in Western countries that have been friends over the years, asserting that with every additional day of war, Hamas moves a step closer to victory.
Harari viewed each confrontation in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and each day of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel as another round of "roulette," considering that the possibility of escalating violence in the West Bank and the entry of Hezbollah and Iran, along with other forces, into a wider war to strike Israel, shaking it and defeating it, remains likely at any moment, potentially becoming a "deluge."
Turning from Hamas's objectives to Israel's, Harari stated that they do not exist in a realistic sense, noting that the lack of clarity exposes Israel to losing the war even if it wins all the battles on the ground. He emphasized that even if Israel succeeds in disarming Hamas, that would be a military achievement, not a political goal.
Harari argued that Israel fundamentally does not know where it is headed, making it very difficult for it to choose a path, whether that involves an attack on Rafah or a ceasefire. Summarizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political vision as a sole goal of "saving his chair," he criticized other members of his government who are captives to their own fantastical biblical visions, calling for the formation of an alternative government with a realistic political vision, as “allowing a government without policies to wage war is a guaranteed recipe for defeat.”
Additionally, Harari mocked the slogan of "returning the prisoners" as a declared goal of the war, stating that it no longer convinces anyone, not even the families of the prisoners. He concluded his article by saying, “Even if Israel succeeds in disarming Hamas militarily, if it does not have a political horizon, Hamas has defeated us.”
