It Is High Time Israel Reconsiders Its Politics

• 06.06.2015, 12:22
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Near East,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  Analytics

It is already several days that the seemingly calm situation in the Israeli-Palestinian the so called "relations" has broken and there is again a tension. This, of course, was more than expected, as it is already a long time, the negotiations have entered into a deadlock and the Israeli parliamentary elections, which were a restraining factor, are already behind.

This time, however, the story of mutual airstrikes is a little bit different and quite interesting. After the airstikes from Hamas-controlled territory on southern Israel, the latter did not hesitate to counter-attack, even already having the announcement of a Salafist group in the Gaza Strip named the Omar Brigades sympathetic to the Islamic State. In its announcement the group claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, even explaining this was done in response to Hamas killing an Islamic State supporter. 

The fact that Israel counter-attacked Hamas shows that this incident was just a reason for Israel to take actions. Even in different official statements, as well as in the reactions of the opposition of Israel, it is clearly noted that any action against Israel should be answered severely and aggressively. Israeli Defense Minister declared that even if the shooters were jihadist groups, rebelling against Hamas, Israel keeps Hamas responsible for everything that occurs in the territory of Gaza.

These actions, of course, are in the framework of the logic how Israel-Palestine and Israel-Hamas "relate" with each other and the opposite sides have the same tough stance as Israel. If we follow the logic of this conflict, then now it is the turn of Hamas… It was with this kind of counter-attacks that the last year's two-month war started, which took lives of thousands of people.

All this proves that the sides are still not ready for compromises and does not lose the opportunity to go against each other. In this context, however, Israel should take into consideration several factors. First of all, its relations with the US are not on the same level as before and the tension is obvious. This supposes that the US support to Israel in the latter's actions cannot be on the same level.

Second, the developments over the Iranian nuclear deal show that, most likely, till the end of this month the sides with come to an agreement, which will mean increase of Iran's role in the Middle East, from which Israel is so much afraid of.

At last, the number of the countries calling for peaceful solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on two-state solution and that of recognizing Palestine increase day by day. This means that it is a high time Israel reconsiders its politics. One day it can no longer justify itself…