Operation Iron Sword

History has repeated as a similar attack occurred in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.

By Lt Col Manoj K Channan

The dastardly attack by Hamas in Southern Israel by firing between 2,000- 5,000 rockets in a bid to take control of the areas across the Gaza Strip this morning has been retaliated by the Israeli Defence Forces under the code name Operation Iron Sword. 

History has repeated as a similar attack occurred in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. The Jews being on Sabbath would have been a significant consideration for the Palestinians to look for a weak link in the Israeli response to their surprise attack.

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-standing political and territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians. Although the conflict covers various issues and regions, the Gaza Strip remains one of its most contentious areas. Understanding the historical context of this conflict and its implications is essential.ALSO READIsrael Faces Escalating Conflict as Hamas Launches Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

Historical Context

Ottoman and British Rule. The region known today as Israel and Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. After World War I, the British took control under a League of Nations mandate.

1947 UN Partition Plan. The United Nations proposed a partition of the British Mandate of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. The Jewish leadership accepted the plan, but Arab leaders did not. This led to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

1948-1949 War and Armistice. Israel declared independence in 1948, prompting several Arab states to attack. When the fighting stopped, an armistice line was drawn, and Gaza came under Egyptian military control. It is worth noting that, at this point, there was no Palestinian state per se.

Six-Day War (1967). Israel pre-emptively struck its neighbours, fearing an impending attack. In just six days, Israel defeated several Arab nations and occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Gaza Strip.

1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt but kept the Gaza Strip.ALSO READIAF To Unveil New Ensign: A Symbol of Heritage and Valour

Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty

The treaty was signed on 26 October 1994. The treaty also settled land and water disputes, provided for broad cooperation in tourism and trade, and obligated both countries to prevent their territory from being used as a staging ground for military strikes by a third country. Jordan was the second Arab country, after Egypt, to sign a peace accord with Israel.

In 1987, Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres and King Hussein tried secretly to arrange a peace agreement in which Israel would cede the West Bank to Jordan. The proposal was not consummated due to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s objection. The following year, Jordan abandoned its claim to the West Bank in favour of a peaceful resolution between Israel and the PLO. The signing ceremony took place at the southern border crossing of Arabah. The treaty guaranteed Jordan the restoration of its occupied land (approximately 380 square kilometres) and an equitable share of water from the Yarmouk and Jordan rivers.

Israel – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Peace Initiative

Israel and KSA, after two decades, decided to set aside their differences and look at shared interests to bring peace and prosperity to the region.

Iranian Threat. Both countries see Iran as a regional rival. They are concerned about its influence in the Middle East, especially its nuclear program and its support for armed groups in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon. This shared concern has significantly driven closer ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Economic Opportunities. Israel is known for its technological innovations, particularly in agriculture, cybersecurity, and water management. Saudi Arabia could benefit from such expertise as it seeks to diversify its economy away from oil under its Vision 2030 plan.

Regional Stability. A stable Middle East is in the interest of both countries. They aim to foster a more predictable regional environment by increasing cooperation and communication.

Gaza’s Importance

The Gaza Strip, a tiny piece of land along the Mediterranean coast between Israel and Egypt, holds immense strategic, symbolic, and humanitarian importance in the Israel-Palestine conflict:

Strategic Importance. As a coastal enclave bordering Egypt, Gaza is geopolitically significant. Its location has made it a key point of contention between different powers throughout history.

Refugee Crisis. Many Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 and 1967 wars. They and their descendants are now in the Gaza Strip, often in refugee camps. The right of return for these refugees is a vital issue in the conflict.

Hamas. Founded in 1987, Hamas is an Islamist political and military organization. It has been in de facto control of Gaza since 2007, after a conflict with the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah faction. Israel and many other countries consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

Blockades and Conflicts. Due to concerns about security and Hamas, Israel and Egypt have imposed blockades on Gaza, restricting the movement of goods and people. This has led to a humanitarian crisis. Periodic escalations between Israel and Hamas have resulted in wars and large-scale military operations, causing significant civilian casualties and infrastructural damages.

Humanitarian Importance. The blockade, combined with the periodic conflicts, has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There needs to be more clean water, electricity, and essential services. International organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the situation.

Symbolic Importance. For many Palestinians, Gaza symbolizes resistance against Israeli occupation. For many Israelis, it represents a security threat due to rocket attacks and tunnels.

In summary, the Gaza Strip is a microcosm of the broader Israel-Palestine conflict, reflecting the historical grievances, religious significance, geopolitical considerations, and humanitarian crises inherent in this long-standing dispute.

Key Developments

Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy While public gestures have been limited, there have been multiple reports of secret meetings between Israeli and Saudi officials.

Abraham Accords. The 2020 normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab states (UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco) has shifted the dynamics in the region. While Saudi Arabia has not joined the Abraham Accords, it has given its tacit approval by allowing Israeli flights to cross its airspace.

Public Remarks. There have been several instances where Saudi officials have made statements indicating a potential for future normalization. For instance, a former Saudi intelligence chief, Prince Turki al-Faisal, shared a platform with an Israeli official in a 2020 event, which would have been unthinkable a few years earlier.

Netanyahu’s Alleged Visit. In November 2020, there were unconfirmed reports that the then-Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, secretly visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While Israel did not deny this, Saudi officials did.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While there are shared interests and behind-the-scenes engagements, several challenges remain for both countries to resolve.

Palestinian Issue. Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. Public opinion in Saudi Arabia remains sympathetic to the Palestinians. As such, formal normalization without progress on the Israeli-Palestinian peace front could be domestically sensitive for the Saudi leadership.

Regional Dynamics. The broader geopolitical game, especially with Iran, Qatar, and Turkey, can affect the pace and direction of any normalization efforts.

Internal Dynamics. Both countries have their internal political dynamics and considerations, which can influence decisions about foreign relations.

U.S. Role. The U.S. has traditionally been a close ally of Israel and Saudi Arabia. The dynamics of the U.S. relationship with each country, particularly given shifting U.S. priorities and interests in the Middle East, will play a role in the potential for normalization.

Peace with Palestinians

Peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia will genuinely create a new Middle East. The Israeli Prime Minister reiterated that the circle of peace can expand towards an absolute path of “genuine peace” with Palestinians. However, there is a caveat: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas “must stop spreading the horrible anti-Semitic conspiracies” against the Jewish people, and the Palestinian Authority “must stop supporting and glorifying terrorists”.

The Iran Factor

The Israeli Prime Minister had cautioned that there is a “fly in the ointment” and the fanatics ruling Iran will do everything they can to thwart this historic peace. He denounced Iran for its terrorist acts. 

Recent Occurrences in Gaza

The situation in the Gaza Strip remains tense. Periodic escalations and ceasefires have punctuated the relative calm. In 2021, a significant conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas, causing significant destruction in Gaza and civilian casualties.

Efforts at reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and broader peace initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians have faced challenges. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains concerning, with international efforts to provide aid and facilitate reconstruction ongoing.

Israeli Internal Differences on Government Policy

Israel, like many democratic nations, has a diverse political landscape characterized by various parties, movements, and public figures who hold differing views on a wide range of policy issues. These differences can be especially pronounced given Israel’s unique historical, religious, and geopolitical context. 

Security and Defense

Hawkish Stance. Parties like Likud, Yamina, and other right-wing factions traditionally take a stricter stance on defence and security issues, emphasizing a robust military response to threats and a sceptical approach to peace negotiations.

Dovish Stance. Left-leaning parties such as Meretz and Labor support a more conciliatory approach, emphasizing diplomacy, negotiations, and concessions to achieve peace.

Settlements and the Palestinian Territories

Pro-Settlement. Many right-wing and religious parties support the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and oppose establishing a Palestinian state.

Pro-Two-State Solution. Centrist and left-wing factions typically support a two-state solution, where a recognized Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel. This might involve land concessions or the evacuation of certain settlements.

Economic Policy

Free Market & Deregulation. Parties like Likud and other right-leaning factions have historically pushed for free-market reforms, deregulation, and privatization.

Social Welfare & Regulation Left-leaning parties tend to support a more robust social welfare state, regulations to address economic inequality, and worker rights.

Religion and State

Religious Influence. Religious parties such as Shas (Sephardic Haredi) and United Torah Judaism (Ashkenazi Haredi) advocate for policies that reflect Jewish religious law (halakha) and often resist efforts to secularize certain areas of public life.

Secularism. Secular parties like Yesh Atid, Israel Beiteinu, and others push for a reduction in the influence of religious institutions on state matters, supporting policies like public transportation on Shabbat, civil marriage, and less religious influence in education.

Minority Rights

Jewish Ethno-state. Some right-wing parties emphasize Israel’s identity as a Jewish state and may be less accommodating to the needs and rights of minority groups, particularly Arab-Israelis.

Pluralism & Equality: Left-wing and Arab parties, such as the Joint List, emphasize equal rights for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Judiciary and Rule of Law

Judicial Reform. Some right-wing figures and parties have called for reforms to reduce the judiciary’s power, believing the Israeli Supreme Court too interventionist.

They are preserving Judicial Independence. Centrist and left-wing factions generally resist efforts to curtail the judiciary’s power, viewing it as a safeguard against potential overreach by the executive or legislative branches.

Conclusion

Due to the proportional representation electoral system, coalitions often span multiple policy positions, requiring parties to compromise and adapt. Additionally, the Israeli public’s opinions on these issues are diverse and multifaceted, often influenced by security concerns, economic conditions, religious beliefs, and personal experiences.

The Iranians and their proxies, the Palestinians, would have been watching these events very closely to launch such an attack.

The IDF response has been swift and will be carried out to the Palestinian-occupied territories in Gaza. The captured IDF nationals and their recovery will be the prime focus and the targeting of the Palestinian leadership.

It is too early to discuss the failure of Israel’s strong intelligence network. Something indeed went wrong despite the technological edge the Israelis enjoy. The response of the Arab world in the next few hours will determine the region’s future.

The Chinese initiatives in the region and their influence on the Iranian government are to be watched closely as this will be crucial to the broader moves on the chessboard of the region.

Lastly as a multi culture, multi religion and multi ethnicity society in India, we need to watch these and learn from the mistakes of the others. Israel is a friend of India and we pray for the safety of their citizens.

Peace is in the far distance for the moment.

The author is an Indian Army Veteran.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.