Netanyahu is bound to keep the war going in Gaza, despite not having achieved his military goals there, because he is in office only as long as he does the bidding of two Ultra-Extremist Jewish settlers, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Bezalel Smotrich. If Netanyahu loses their support in his cabinet, his coalition will fall, and Netanyahu will go to jail on past corruption charges.
From the beginning of the war on Gaza, Netanyahu has been determined to destroy Hamas, and his second goal has been to destroy Hezbollah. Military experts have cautioned that his goals cannot be achieved because resistance to occupation can never be stopped. An army can kill leaders and fighters, but the desire for freedom and independence can never be wiped out. India and South Africa are both examples of winning independence from colonial rule.
With the Biden Oval Office flying on auto-pilot, Netanyahu feels this is the unique chance to start a major war in Lebanon, which the US government will pay for. He knows from his standing ovations speech at the US Congress, that Israel is assured of US military support during a war in Lebanon. Netanyahu has calculated that the time is right because if Donald Trump were to win in November, he might pressure Netanyahu to a ceasefire and stop the blank check for weapons. Trump has proved in his previous term in office that he is not in favor of foreign wars in which the US taxpayers have to pay the bill.
All eyes are on the skies of Lebanon, as the hours passing by bring us closer to a possible war that has not been seen in its scope for 50 years.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.
This article is originally published at Times of India
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