Beyond the military challenges of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the desire to advance the objective of destroying its military infrastructure and recovering the 128 Israelis kidnapped since October 7, Israel is dealing with a difficult international situation.
(Read here: What are the implications of the decision of Spain, Ireland and Norway to recognize Palestine as a State?)
And to this is added the political and diplomatic problem when expressions of support for the Palestinians multiply, either by giving more rights to their representation in the UN or by formally recognizing the Palestinian State.
To analyze this situation, EL TIEMPO interviewed the general (retired) Israel Ziv. This soldier was years ago chief of operations in the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and before that also the head of the brigade that was in charge, precisely, of the Gaza Strip area, before the Israeli withdrawal. from that area in 2005.
General Ziv, how do you think the recent statement by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who requested the issuance of an international arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Minister of Defense, Gallant, as well as against Hamas leaders?
First of all, I think that the position he adopted reflects a problem that goes far beyond Israel. Furthermore, I think that before saying that it is an Israeli problem, it is a problem of the court itself, since with this attitude it undermines its position in the world with its own hands. He is unable to distinguish between good and evil. Between what is fair and what is unfair by placing on the same table a democratic State, which of course can make mistakes, but which is governed according to the laws of war, and a terrorist organization that behaves like Nazis.
I understand that, in your opinion, this is not just Netanyahu’s problem.
Absolutely. It is not a personal problem of the Prime Minister but of the entire State of Israel. And if it is, then it is also a problem of the countries that support it, of the United States, of Western democratic countries. This happens because the ICC Prosecutor confuses everything and mixes it up. It seems like he looks at everything from above, but it can’t be like that. The ICC was created to protect democracies, not for this. You have the right to ask to investigate things, to find out, to study, but to come without having investigated anything and to put the person who launched the attack and the victim together on the same level. It is very serious. He spoke of Netanyahu and Hamas together, and attributed to Israel an intentional desire to murder Palestinians. That is an absolute distortion of reality.
What does Israel have to do now in its opinion?
I think you should appoint an investigative judge, or another prominent figure in your judicial system, to look into everything. No matter how convinced we are of our right, if there is international criticism, it is good that we appoint someone respected in Israel to investigate and show the truth.
Couldn’t that be interpreted as a confession of something wrong done?
On the contrary. I think it would highlight our belief that we do things properly, that even if we make a mistake, which can happen, there is nothing intentional.
And the war? What does this topic influence?
Of course, this issue is like a sword on the army, but I consider that this will not block security considerations to stop the war against Hamas.
Now there is an internal debate in Israel about whether the war should be stopped in order to recover the kidnapped people, since negotiations with Hamas do not work.
That is another internal issue and is undoubtedly a very relevant debate, but not because of the Prosecutor.
How do you see the progress of the war against Hamas? You had many doubts regarding the operation in Rafah. Is it progressing well for Israel?
Definitely. Care is being taken to ensure that the population evacuates, but the central problem is the same as what I saw before: if there is no clear plan for the day after, we are in trouble. We must know who will come in Hamas’s place.
Now Israel deals with another dimension. By multiplying the number of countries that recognize or announce that they will recognize a Palestinian State next week. Do you think this has to do with the prosecutor’s announcement, that they do it because he feels that Israel is weakened internationally?
Of course, it is a backup. I believe that what has been said is true, that a recognition of the Palestinian State at the current time, after everything that happened and the massacre of October 7, is a price for terrorism. I believe that Israel should always aspire to separate from the Palestinians and intervene on the other side only when there are threats of security, of terrorism. And now, after such a murderous terrorist action, even if there is criticism of Israel, going to give recognition to a Palestinian state is equivalent to giving a reward to terrorism.
How can you deal with this situation? Is there anything Israel can do by taking any initiative?
The current government does not carry out any policies. If I did, I could have avoided this. He wages a just war, but he does not handle himself well politically.
JANA BERIS – EL TIEMPO CORRESPONDENT – JERUSALEM
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