2,200 rockets, at least 100 dead in Israel: why the attack could benefit Netanyahu politically

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (73) speaks of ‘war’. Muhammad Deif, 58, head of Hamas’s military wing, says the time of “consequential anger” on the enemy’s side is over. Israeli forces attack Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip. Arab states are raising a warning finger towards Tel Aviv. And the world is witnessing the Middle East descend into bloody chaos once again, almost fifty years after Arab states’ surprise attack on Israel at the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

The attack by Hamas – the ruling party in the Gaza Strip and unofficially the strongest political force in the Palestinian West Bank – is nothing more than a terrorist attack on civilians in the unpopular neighboring country. As bad as the attack is, it comes as no surprise. Politically, this could benefit the Israeli government.

Forget peace

Since Netanyahu came to power in parts of a right-wing radical coalition, the rhetoric between the two feuding neighbors has intensified considerably. Israel has continued to build illegal settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu makes no secret of his desire to immediately annex the Palestinian territories. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (87), who has been preventing new elections for years and clinging to power against the will of his people, responded to the Israeli provocations with completely misplaced denials of the Holocaust.

Peace? Two-state solution? Finally a breather in the powder keg at the very edge of the eastern Mediterranean? All this is as far away as it has been since the Six-Day War of 1967.

The toxic neighborhood conflict has escalated into violence more than once this year, most recently in July when the Israeli army launched a large-scale military operation against the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank. A dozen Palestinians were killed in the invasion. Israel insists it has targeted “terror cells”. The Palestinian side reports civilian casualties.

Israel’s protection is more vulnerable than ever

The latest escalation hits Israel at a particularly sensitive time. In these weeks it will finally be decided whether the judicial reform implemented by Netanyahu’s government will become legally binding. By removing power from the Supreme Court, Netanyahu would have a free hand to reshape the country to his liking, without any political or legal hurdles.

Hundreds of thousands regularly demonstrate against the plan. Large parts of the military reservists that Netanyahu activated yesterday to protect the country threatened to refuse to serve. Israel’s military defense wall is more vulnerable than ever before in the Jewish state’s 75-year history.

Netanyahu is the political winner

Nevertheless, Netanyahu’s camp could benefit politically from the escalation. Israeli society is in danger of being torn apart by the heated debate over judicial reform. Senior military officials and politicians openly warn of civil war. Even America, our steadfast ally, has cut initial aid funds and threatened to further cut the annual $4 billion in military aid if Netanyahu actually goes ahead with his radically anti-democratic plan.

All these debates should come to a halt. Why do people care about legal reforms when Hamas rockets are raining from the sky? Who wants to talk about democracy when the war sirens are blaring?

Militarily, nuclear power Israel has little to fear from its zealous Palestinian neighbors. Economically, the perceived lack of pilgrim tourists to the Holy Land this year is likely to harm Palestinians (Bethlehem) as much as Israelis (Jerusalem, Nazareth). Politically, however, Netanyahu is likely to emerge victorious from the latest bloody chapter in the Middle East. This does not bode well for the future of peace in the area.