Has Netanyahu Bitten Off More Than He Can Chew

A mistake can prove to be a turning point when power turns into narcissism and leaders infuse themselves with a strong dose of illusions and hallucinations of invincibility. This has been seen over and over again, with Adolf Hitler and the end of his Nazi rule being a graphic case in point. So heady with the genocide of a people without arms and ammunition, and successful attacks on decapitated countries like Lebanon and Syria, has Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu made a major turning-point mistake in attacking Iran? Or is it part of a larger plan to plunge the world into World War 3?

The next few days will answer these questions but for the moment it does seem that the Iran response has caught Israel by surprise. Just as the Israel attack, killing military personnel and scientists stunned Tehran that was supposedly in nuclear talks with the United States.It recovered immediately and the military response had the Israelis running for cover. Initial reports even suggested that Netanyahu had fled Tel Aviv after Iranian missiles targeted the Israeli capital, and since then the ferocity of attack by both countries has left their people killed and wounded, and the world as always helpless.

The entire region, and indeed many peoples across the world who have been sick to the core about the indiscriminate, continuous killing of Palestinians by Netanyahu and his military, are applauding Iran for being the first country in over 50 decades to bring the war directly into Israel. These reactions are totally understandable although tragic, as in the process of the dirty war the peace constituency has taken a beating, then and now.

Iran has made it clear that it is no push over, and has penetrated Israel’s much touted Iron Dome with considerable ease. Its missiles are hitting home, and causing havoc in the streets of Israel. Even as it has lost almost 300 citizens with hundreds injured in the Israel attack. War and violence brings no comfort, and it is imperative that the big powers intervene and stop this altogether.

Russia and China have supported Iran categorically. Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned US President Donald Trump almost immediately, and although the details given out are generic, it was presumably to call off Israel. Putin, it was reported, offered to act as a mediator. Nothing has come of this. China, after asserting support for Iran, has reportedly sent a cargo jet with military supplies to Iran. The UK predictably has joined some of the European countries in actively supporting and helping Israel. Countries like Jordan have also stepped in to support Israel, with the Arabs as usual playing the ostrich with Iran, as they did with the Palestinians.

But Iran is not looking for help, except from where it is forthcoming. It has gone into battle mode and is giving as good as it gets. As one writes reports of Iranian missiles hitting Israel’s Ben Gurion airport have come in. What works to Tehran’s advantage is the ability of its people to hunker down and face the brunt of the war, unlike Tel Aviv where the Israelis have for the first time felt the punitive impact of the wars their governments have been waging with neighbouring countries since its inception. Analysts - Israeli and others– have appeared on Al Jazeera channels, and in columns across, with the view that Netanyahu miscalculated. And was under the impression that after the first barrage of missiles and targeted hits, Iran would succumb and reach out for peace and reconciliation immediately.

This has been the problem with the US-Israel dealing with the region that they have penetrated. They have not understood the Palestinians, and now the Iranians. Anyone —except the Arab Gulf they rely on as it is equally clueless— could have told them that the Palestinians will never leave their land. That they will resist till the last breath in their body. And even now Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails cheered —and were beaten badly— as news of the Iranian attack on Israel reached them. And the impoverished and wounded survivors in Gaza cheered as they saw the missiles strike. The spirit born over years of oppression will never die, as the song goes.

Similarly Iran and its government has resistance built into its genesis. Unlike the royal families and despots of the Arab world who are only interested in preserving themselves, the Iranian government is not prepared to compromise and is protective of its sovereignty and independence. It has not made peace with Israel because of the Palestinian issue, and although not Arab and Sunni, it has worked ceaselessly for giving the Palestinians their spot in the sun. Netanyahu and of course, Trump and his administration have little idea of who they are dealing with in Tehran and still believe that the rulers will crack under military pressure. After all they are used to Saudi Arabia that cracks with just a wee bit of political pressure, along with the carrots being dangled for the Royals.

The Persians are not of this variety. And resistance is built into the regime, as is a pride that is now legendary. As is a strategic depth that is visible perhaps now to Israel, a long term vision that is evident in its military counter. In this war, Iran will not be the only nation hurt. Israel is being hit and hurt rapidly, and Netanyahu has finally led its people into the abyss of his making.

Israel today has established itself as a genocidal state amongst the peoples of the world. Governments of these nations might support Tel Aviv, and bend backwards in legitimising the most horrible crimes, but the masses are not going along as the continuous demonstrations in the West indicate. There are calls for trials for war crimes, for genocide; calls for arrests starting from the Israeli PM; and it is true that regardless of the support from governments Israel’s image has changed dramatically. It is no longer the woeful victim of Hitler’s crimes but in the modern age, the perpetrator of such crimes. The penetration of its Iron Dome, and it's over reliance on US weaponry even for the violence against the weaponless Palestinians has effectively exposed the worthiness (or otherwise) of its arm industry; and its violation of international law and all covenants of humanity has placed it firmly on the other side of the spectrum.

The end of the genocide and the wars that Netanyahu is adding to keep himself and his loyals in government, will have heads in Israel rolling. It could well establish a new world order, new bonds and alignments, as all governments are on test and all positions on display. Too early to get into that guessing game perhaps, but the initial brush strokes on the canvas of world order are visible.