Israel is, even now, still engaged in a strategic equation with a zealous, heavily armed enemy who declares daily its intent to destroy us and prepares for it without stopping.
Why is it clear to all of us that we must dismantle Hamas' capabilities? Because Hamas has succeeded in what Hezbollah – a more sophisticated, experienced, determined and far stronger organization – simply hasn’t yet attempted.
Even now, our focus is mainly on symbolic strikes, rather than targeting the terror group’s capabilities or infrastructure. The pager attack was an exception, forced by circumstance, and doesn't reflect Israel’s general approach.
So far, we haven’t touched the organization’s significant assets since it established itself as the largest terror monster ever on our border and constantly shouts that someday, when it's most convenient for it and least for us, it will unleash them on our women and children.
Striking launchers don't change the course of the battle by even a millimeter, nor do they address the only two things that truly matter: the enemy’s intent and its ability to inflict severe damage
Yes, we're hitting launch sites moments before they fire at us. Great. But that's not a strike harming infrastructure. It’s relying on good intelligence, which might not always be available. Striking launchers don't change the course of the battle by even a millimeter, nor do they address the only two things that truly matter: the enemy’s intent and its ability to inflict severe damage. Even the important elimination of its senior leaders that occurred on Friday doesn’t, by itself, impact either of those parameters.
Thus, we're shifting the conflict management strategy to an even more dangerous and problematic front, allowing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to decide how high the flames will rise.
Instead of breaking his limbs, now that he's weakened and we’re presented with an opportunity, we're dancing the tango with him while letting him lead. The only thing the government is fully committed to is applying the concept of October 6 across all fronts.
If we've learned anything from the Hamas invasion, the massacre and the mass kidnappings, it’s that you don’t exchange soft blows with an enemy like this. Our lesson should be that we can’t just continue to work with a micro-focused approach, relying on quality intelligence to take out launchers or intercept a meeting of arch-terrorists. Against an enemy with both intent and means, you eliminate his ability by going all in.
I understand that alongside inherent procrastination, endless real excuses still exist against this: international legitimacy, munition economy, the U.S. elections and more. But if someone can’t manage all of these complexities wisely and instead delivers a result that perpetuates the same failed concept, then they’re simply not the right person to handle this super-complex situation. It’s a legitimate reason, but it’s likely beyond them. And the moments of truth are here now.
Amichai AttaliPhoto: Matan TzuriWe deserve more – and right now, we really need much, much more.