The Israeli opposition has long attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for lacking any vision and action plan for the future of the conflict, but what many people overlook is that the lack of coherent plans does not mean, according to Netanyahu, the absence of a policy, according to Noa Landau, deputy editor-in-chief of Haaretz newspaper.
The writer believes that Netanyahu is indeed following a clear policy of his, but she explains in her article in the same newspaper that Netanyahu’s policies are translated into actions on the ground, and not into words or official ratifications and declarations.
She says that throughout the years of his rule, Netanyahu has benefited from deliberate ambiguity, including broadcasting contradictory messages in Hebrew and English, “but reality does not lie.” In this way, very slowly, large parts of the West Bank were annexed de facto, without legislation “intended to be absurdly impressive.” This is exactly what is happening now in the Gaza Strip, according to the article.
Landau explains that despite his opponents’ attacks on him, Netanyahu is implementing a plan in stages. It consists – firstly – of occupying large areas of the Gaza Strip, expelling residents, destroying their homes, paving new roads and building military sites and other infrastructure in the long term.
She adds that this stage is currently being implemented by advancing a plan to transfer civilian control of Gaza to private companies, specifically to “local entities with administrative experience not linked to countries or organizations that support terrorism,” and Israel will pay for that.
Netanyahu is implementing a plan in stages; It consists – firstly – of occupying large areas of the Gaza Strip, expelling residents, destroying their homes, paving new roads and building military sites and other infrastructure in the long term.
Then comes the transfer of responsibility for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip to the Israeli army (a metaphor for a military government).
The deputy editor-in-chief of Haaretz reveals that a decision is now taking shape to appoint a private Israeli-American company to take over the task after the army refrained from undertaking that task.
It is reported that the company nominated for this is said to be called “GDC”, which is a military contracting company of the type that worked in Iraq and Afghanistan during the American occupation of the two countries.
According to the article, numerous studies conducted over the years on this strategy have shown that it entails great risks. The entities entrusted with this type of work are “mercenary companies,” and there are many questions about the extent of their commitment to international law and international standards.
The author believes that this would essentially lead to the privatization of military rule in Gaza by handing it over to private companies with special financial interests and nothing else. “The goal is to transfer moral and legal responsibility from Israel to these armed militias.”
Netanyahu’s post-war plan for the Gaza Strip consists of “military occupation, mercenaries, and settlements, and this is a sure recipe for the coming disaster.”
The company’s founder and CEO, Moti Kahane, was quoted in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper yesterday, Tuesday, as saying, “If something happens, we will send a message to the residents of Gaza not to mess with us.” Landau describes this warning as similar to what mafia gangs issue.
The author of the article expresses her belief that what Israel aims to achieve through all of this is to prevent the Palestinian Authority from giving a foothold in the Gaza Strip, and thus to weaken it, which is a policy that Netanyahu has been implementing throughout the years of his rule.
She points out that the current plan gives private contracting companies the keys to civilian control over the Gaza Strip, thus turning the Strip into another Iraq, which will be a “tragedy for generations.”
She concludes by saying that Netanyahu’s post-war plan for the Gaza Strip consists of “military occupation, mercenaries, and settlements, and this is a sure recipe for the coming disaster.”
