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Israel’s victory is not only on the battlefield – it also requires regional reconsideration and a common desire for life, prosperity, creative development and a better future, writes Erel Margalit.
The October 7 massacre committed by Hamas profoundly changed the ground under the feet of Israelis.
The terrorist assault on communities of essentially unprotected civilians has broken the unwritten but imperative social contract between the state and its citizens, a contract under which citizens serve in the military and, in return, we – especially those of us who build our lives near enemy lines – are defended by the country’s security apparatus.
This contract collapsed with the appalling and unprecedented terrorist attack broadcast around the world, which represents the greatest intelligence and security failure since the creation of the State.
To restore what was lost, Israel must now make an urgent paradigm shift on several fronts: security, diplomatic and economic.
On the security front, the devastating consequences of the assault, which lasted several hours, put an end to the doctrine of containment held for many years, according to which Israel can appease neighboring territory ruled by terrorists by helping to transfer funds, hoping that they will be used to develop the Gazan economy and praying that indiscriminate rocket fire on Israeli cities will be kept to a minimum.
Action against Hamas is not just an act of self-defense
Over the years, Hamas has raked in $2.5 billion (2.27 billion euros) a year from Gaza, thanks to Iran, Qatar and a network of international charities.
Most of this money is used to finance the luxury lives of Hamas’s top leaders, build tunnels under cities in the Gaza Strip, strengthen the terrorist infrastructure in the territory and acquire weapons and ammunition.
On October 7, this device was directed directly against Israeli civilians, which had catastrophic consequences.
It must be clear today that coexistence with a terrorist group is impossible and that Hamas must be fought and defeated, just as Western powers fought and defeated the Islamic State, and as the United States fought and defeated Al-Qaeda before that.
Israel has a duty to eradicate Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups that pose a threat to the security of its people.
Citizens throughout Israeli society will no longer tolerate the danger posed by Hamas’ evil vision of terror, and Israeli soldiers will fight this war to its conclusion.
Israel’s decisive action against Hamas is not just an act of self-defense; it is a stand against terrorism which threatens global peace and security.
But war alone is not policy. Skillful diplomacy must be at the heart of any winning strategy.
Moderate allies – including the Palestinians – want to see a transformed Middle East
Indeed, leveraging diplomatic ties and economic agreements with key moderate Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Israel must develop an exit strategy war plan that would enable broad reconstruction efforts in Gaza, while providing strong economic development incentives for Palestinians.
But at present, it appears that Israel’s plans for the aftermath of the war are woefully underdeveloped.
Moderate allies in the region, including the Palestinians, have an interest in seeing a transformed Middle East and should be tapped as welcome partners in a solution to end the conflict, alongside the United States, NATO, Europe and the United Kingdom.
This type of strategic alliance would not only strengthen Israel’s security, but also lay the foundations for a united front against the extremist ideologies plaguing our region.
A Middle East realignment will need to include elements of the existing cooperation and partnership between Israel and its Arab allies in sectors such as agricultural technology, water technology, cybersecurity and health care.
ADVERTISEMENTIf we succeed, Gaza could one day be a place where schools, hospitals and places of worship are free of terror tunnels and Hamas terrorists, where people can hold good jobs and have a chance at life. a better life in coexistence with Israel.
The Palestinian Authority is the only partner capable of administering Gaza.
It is essential that stakeholders work together to build support for possible Palestinian Authority leadership of Gaza, which would rebuild the Palestinian enclave and chart a new path for the Gaza Strip and the region.
Moderate Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank, with whom we and our portfolio companies have worked for years as colleagues, friends and partners, are our allies for a future of peace and coexistence.
For this to happen in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority will need to be reformed in order to regain the trust of Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the international community.
It must rid itself of the crippling corruption that its leaders have allowed to flourish and denounce once and for all any support for terror.
ADVERTISEMENTBut we must also recognize that the Palestinian Authority has been a key security partner of Israel, helping it fight extremists for some three decades. It is the only partner capable of administering Gaza.
Israel’s victory lies in the common desire for a better future
Economically, Israel must consider a transformation of its communities and capitalize on existing partnerships and programs developed by its strong technology ecosystem to attract talent, stimulate job creation and build inclusive institutions. Innovation is ultimately the key to a collective future.
By fostering local and regional economic development, Israel has the potential to create new opportunities in diverse areas – from professional fields and education to the military, the high-tech sector and in the field – thus paving the way to a new era.
Israel’s victory is not only played out on the battlefield, it also requires regional reconsideration and a common desire for life, prosperity, creative development and a better future.
The aftermath of the war is Israel’s opportunity to reshape Gaza and the Middle East as a whole.
ADVERTISEMENTErel Margalit is a former member of the Knesset, an Israeli high-tech investor and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and executive chairman of the Jerusalem-based venture capital firm Jerusalem Venture Partners and of Margalit Startup City, an international collection of thematic socio-economic hubs.
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