Having passed the 100-day mark, Israel’s war against Hamas is entering a new phase — but with no clear end in sight.
For that, blame Hamas.
The terror cadre still holds scores of hostages — and just published sadistic videos playing literal games with their lives — and hides its men and arms in hospitals, schools, and a massive tunnel network.
Hamas’ evil and the moral necessity of its destruction, however, don’t blunt the hard questions now confronting the Jewish state.
Yes, the tempo of the IDF operation in Gaza is slowing as Israel moves toward more focused efforts to rout out Hamas leadership and infrastructure.
That’s not a response to President Biden’s public criticism and slanderous whining about “indiscriminate” bombing — it’s a matter of strategic and tactical necessity.
It’s a recognition, as well, of a stark economic reality: Israel can’t function forever with so many of its military-age people called up to active duty.
Yet as the Gaza operation grows more focused, the threat of a newly aggressive Hezbollah looms in the north.
If Israel dares to defend itself from Iran’s minions on that front, will Biden and his team take the excuse to give in to their own party’s pro-Hamas faction, and cut off support for Jerusalem?
One bad sign: Washington’s clearly calculated leak to the press of a USDIA report outlining fears the IDF can’t handle a two-front conflict.
Another: the talks, overseen by senior Biden adviser Amos Hochstein, that seem ultimately aimed at getting Israel to compromise on northern-border security for promises of peace from Hezbollah.
Never mind that Bibi’s erstwhile opponent and current cabinet minister Benny Gantz and other leaders still in the opposition also see the need for a military solution, should diplomacy (the Netanyahu government’s preferred approach to Lebanon) fail.
Should open war with Lebanon be averted and the military phase of Israel’s Gaza operation concludes successfully, that leaves the Jewish state no closer to answering what may be the most pressing question it faces.
Namely: Who will govern Gaza?
All the likely players — the United Nations, and the Palestinian Authority — are disqualified because of their deep sympathy to Hamas.
And Israel itself has no interest in the job.
In other words, even stunning success on all fronts leaves Israel facing chaos and uncertainty, as Biden tries ever harder to empower Iran.
With friends like that . . .
This story originally appeared on NYPost
