Israeli-Hamas War: Netanyahu Must Go For Peace!
Our Editorial Board will publish serial articles on the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, delving into its complex history, tracing it back to the early 20th century and the competing aspirations of the Jewish and Arab populations in the region. We will also explore the role of external factors, such as British colonialism and the broader geopolitical context of the Middle East, in shaping the conflict over time. By presenting this history without being Islamophobic or antisemitic, clearly and comprehensively, we hope to foster greater understanding and empathy on all sides and contribute to a more constructive dialogue toward peace and reconciliation.
Israeli-Hamas War: Netanyahu Must Go for Peace!
The Israel-Hamas conflict, which has been ongoing for over a decade, is a grave concern for the world. On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a primitively vicious attack on Israel in which it insanely slaughtered innocent Israelis, including women and children, and abducted many in heightened peril. Moderate Voices of America unequivocally condemns the brutal attack by Hamas on innocent Israelis. While Hamas may remain popular among some Palestinians who see it as a freedom fighter, in the global context, it has lost credibility and legitimacy as a representative of the entire Palestinian population. It is imperative that Hamas be eliminated, but not at the cost of innocent Palestinian lives. It is crucial to find a solution that ensures the safety and well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians.
We support Israel’s right to exist and its efforts to combat terrorism and protect its citizens. However, it must do so with a surgically precisive approach only to eliminate Hamas, even if it takes longer to accomplish as long as innocent Palestinian lives are protected. We also recognize that this conflict is just one part of larger, deeply rooted, and longstanding struggles between Israelis and Palestinians for land and peace. The time has come for lasting solutions. The violence and bloodshed on both sides must end. However, the first step is acknowledging that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot bring peace to Israel; therefore, he must relinquish power for peace.
Netanyahu’s tactics have raised questions about the future of Israeli politics. It is fair to acknowledge that just as Hamas may not be interested in making peace, the Israeli government led by Netanyahu is not ready to make peace either. Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict has evolved. Initially, he called for a Demilitarized Palestinian State, which would have deprived Palestine of its military for defense, a proposition that was impractical and unrealistic. Later, he advocated for the right of natural growth for Israelis in Jewish settlements and the West Bank while denying the right of return for Palestinians to Israel. Under his leadership, the Israeli government began demolishing Palestinian homes in Eastern Jerusalem to make way for new Israeli settlements. The world criticized those actions as ungodly, immoral, and unacceptable.
Netanyahu disagrees with the US
The United States government has always supported a two-state solution for the region. But Netanyahu disagrees. Opposing a two-state solution, Netanyahu has consistently pursued the construction of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land. He has also incarcerated hostile Palestinians through collective punishment, demolishing their homes even if the houses belong to other family members – a blatant violation of human rights. Other actions, such as the blanket blockade of Palestinians, have dehumanized and denied Palestinians means of livelihood, which often led to unrest, mass arrest, and imprisonment. The international Press has also accused Israeli police of using excessive force and killing Palestinians for protesting without recourse. And many more are imprisoned without any formal charges against them. In the West Bank, the Netanyahu government condones the Jewish settlers’ flagrant abuse at will of Palestinian human rights.
Netanyahu has repeatedly derailed any peace process initiated by the US that could ultimately lead to a two-state solution. “We will keep developing our eternal capital, … we will keep fortifying it so that dividing it will not be possible, and it will always remain united,” Netanyahu said. “Therefore, anyone who still believes that Israel will cede to a two-state solution in the conflict should have his or her head examined,” He concluded. Netanyahu is never ready for dialogue and, therefore, a stumbling block to lasting peace in the region.
Netanyahu has prioritized maximum security for Israel without engaging in negotiations with the Palestinians. The approach, driven by self-aggrandizement, has endangered Israelis and perpetuated a cycle of violence. While security is undoubtedly important, it cannot come at the expense of negotiations toward lasting peace and safety for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, have proven this premise that military fortification alone cannot protect Israelis without a broader approach to a lasting peace solution.
Many in Israel have ascribed the Hamas attack to Netanyahu’s failed leadership and the disenchantment of the military that was not better prepared—the New York Times reported that Israeli officials had obtained details of Hamas’s 40-page battle plan code-named “Jericho Wall” to attack Israel more than a year before the attacks took place but did nothing to prevent it. Consequently, Israeli intelligence, considered the best in the region, failed to act on such invaluable information. Others have proffered that the negligence was a ploy to prolong Netanyahu’s term in office. But overall, Netanyahu’s incompetence has left the government unable to protect its citizens, emphasizing the need for a new leader to bring about genuine progress toward resolving this age-old conflict.
There is no military solution
It is crucial to understand that the military incursions into Gaza, even the elimination of Hamas, are not a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, therefore, are not a sustainable solution. The Israeli military success in Gaza may be short-lived. While it may result in the elimination of Hamas in Gaza, the surviving orphans and deceased relatives and their offspring are likely to avenge the deaths of loved ones someday, further creating a power vacuum, leading to the emergence of even more extreme factions, the resistance and the cycle of violence could continue. The eternal solution is a two-state system in which both countries live in peace and security.
While we firmly believe that Israelis and Palestinians deserve lasting peace and security, Netanyahu will never let that happen. A different approach is needed to achieve this goal. We, therefore, call upon all peace-loving Israelis to unite and demand his removal from office. He must never lead Israel ever again. Only then can Israel and the region know peace!
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The Editorial Board
Moderate Voices of America
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