Israel faces two challenges at the moment. First, managing the war against Hamas in Gaza, with all its local, regional, and international implications. The second is civilian: taking care of evacuees, victims, and the families of the kidnapped and missing, and planning the rehabilitation of the communities in the surrounding area.
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The best Israeli forces are assigned to the first task. True, some of them are still dealing with the massive failure of October 7th, but now that things are in motion, the security system is carrying out an aerial campaign that is expected to deal successfully with the complex military challenge posed by Hamas, which has been preparing Gaza for this ground operation for years.
Video: 'It's a massacre' - Israeli kibbutz highlights destruction of Hamas attack / Credit: Reuters
The IDF will encounter surprises in the Gaza Strip, which is a major reason for the prolonged aerial assault and the meticulous preparations for the counteroffensive, which are meant to shift the advantage to the Israeli side.
However, the military activity on the ground is just one side of this operation. Several other critical elements must be preserved in order to achieve the strategic goal of the war – denying Hamas its military and governing capabilities. The first is to act in a laser-focused manner in the north to maintain a strong defense and deterrence, and to avoid opening a broader front against Hezbollah and Iran.
Concurrent efforts are supposed to prevent escalation in Judea and Samaria and east Jerusalem, as well as among the Arab citizens of Israel. All of these factors will be influenced both by the images coming from Gaza and by the power that Israel projects. This will also affect international legitimacy, which is critical for the continuation of the operation, and the international public opinion, particularly in Washington, whose support for Israel is critical in the diplomatic and security aspects (munitions and additional military aid, as well as deterring the Iranian axis from expanding the conflict).
In contrast, for the second task, relatively weak elements have been assigned, and this is quite distressing. These are part of an inept public service that has favored cronies over professional management for years. The power struggles that have developed within the Prime Minister's Office and between the Prime Minister's Office and the treasury (over authority, budgets, and responsibility) teach us that no one involved truly understands the magnitude of the moment. Even now, 10 days into the disaster, our leaders are focused on their own petty needs and too little work – a precise recipe for an ongoing crisis.
The list of issues requiring immediate attention is endless, but it can be distilled into three main categories. The first is dealing with the captives, where the government's response has been lacking inconsistent. The second is addressing the needs of the evacuees, who still have more questions than answers, ranging from supply and equipment issues to the excessive dependence on the generosity of private and business sectors and doubts about the future in terms of housing, education, and welfare. The third is the rehabilitation of the surrounding area, which requires big budgets and efficient action between the various ministries.
These two challenges, security and civilians, are the most complex issues that Israel has known since 1948. Instead of celebrating its 75th year, Israel is faced with an immense, unprecedented, and demanding task that requires its best resources and minds.
Unfortunately, it comes with too much ego and politics. To everyone's dismay, the state budget has not been altered so that billions could be allocated to security and civilian causes stemming from the war. Until that happens, Israel will continue down the old path that has failed. If Israel wants to emerge from this serious crisis in its history, it must act immediately and correct its course.
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