Bottom Line
- Benjamin Netanyahu’s vocal opposition to any role for Palestinians in the post-war period serves to amplify Hamas’ misleading propaganda that it alone represents the interests of all Palestinians, embraces the tenets of Islam, and that its armed struggle can reverse Israeli occupation.
- Israel’s long-term security will benefit from credible Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim voices to undercut Hamas’ powerful propaganda.
- Without some course correction in his rhetoric toward Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ultimately lead Israel back to the political situation that existed before the October 7 attacks, and Hamas’ insidious trap will succeed.
- A staunch ally of Israel, the United States will increasingly find it difficult to ignore domestic and regional concerns about the humanitarian costs and implications of Israel’s military action. Unless Palestinians are offered political alternatives, Israel’s allies will face challenges in assisting post-war plans, any progress toward normalization between moderate Arab states and Israel will falter, friends of Israel will increasingly fret about a broadening of the conflict and terrorism, and Hamas and its “Axis of Resistance” allies will register a success.
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- United States of America