Share this @internewscast.com

TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled his first official postwar plan for Gaza — but experts say the proposal has more to do with political posturing than an offer of a tangible strategy for the months and years ahead.

In a relatively scant document released overnight, Netanyahu revealed his plan for the enclave once Israel’s war with Hamas comes to an end. It was written in Hebrew and ran just over a page long.

“The good news is that there is a plan for the future,” said Gideon Rahat, senior fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Israel Democracy Institute. “The bad news is that there isn’t much in it.”

Translated by NBC News, the document calls for Israel’s ongoing military presence, as well as for the continued maintenance of a “buffer zone” in northern Gaza — the latter of which the Biden administration has opposed since its conception.

The plan, which is broken down into immediate, intermediate and long-term goals, reiterates Netanyahu’s more pressing ambitions: to see the “complete demilitarization” of Gaza, an end to Hamas’ rule, and the release of hostages who have remained held captive since Oct. 7.

In the medium term, the plan calls for an overhaul of Gaza’s civil administration that will depend on “local elements with administrative experience.” The plan makes no mention of the Palestinian Authority, which President Joe Biden has previously said should ultimately govern Gaza, as well as the occupied West Bank, as a “revitalized” body.

It further mandates the introduction of a “southern lock” at the border with Egypt to prevent any “rearmament buildup of terrorist factors,” while also calling for the introduction of a “comprehensive de-radicalization program” and the eventual closure of UNRWA, the United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees.

The only two long-term goals outlined in the plan revolve around Netanyahu’s rejection of “international diktats” regarding a permanent settlement with Palestinians — as well as his opposition to any “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state, which the document said would be a “reward to terrorism.”

The U.S. has pushed for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades but has not formally recognized an independent Palestinian state itself. The Biden administration has been exploring options for instituting the two-state plan after the war, a senior administration official told NBC News earlier this month.

Dov Waxman, director of UCLA’s Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, said the release of Netanyahu’s plan could also be in part to preempt any proposal “which would outline the Biden administration’s views on what should happen once the war ends.”

The Biden administration did not immediately respond to a request from NBC News for comment on Netanyahu’s plan.

John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, said in a virtual briefing on Friday that Biden remains “fully committed” to pursuing a two-state solution.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates struck out at Netanyahu’s plan, saying it “means reoccupying the Gaza Strip and obstructing American and international efforts to establish a Palestinian state.”

A balancing act

Ultimately, Nimrod Goren, senior fellow for Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute said, Netanyahu’s plan “doesn’t achieve much.”

“In terms of diplomacy, it’s not a document that takes things forward,” he said. “And it’s not really relevant for the long term, because eventually the policies in the long term will be decided probably by a different leadership than we have now.”

Goren said the document reflects the tricky balancing act Netanyahu has faced since the war began of trying to maintain support from the Biden administration while also appeasing the right-wing politicians upon which his fragile coalition relies — and winning back support from the Israeli public.

Noting that the document was only released in Hebrew, Goren said it appeared largely aimed at an Israeli audience, with the goal of giving Netanyahu “some domestic legitimacy that he is currently lacking” as support for the prime minister continues to plummet in the polls — and as he faces growing scrutiny from right-wing members of his government.

Rahat, who is also a professor in the political science department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, agreed, saying the plan was likely conceived with Netanyahu’s “never-ending campaign” in mind.

The document follows mounting pressure from the U.S. for a postwar plan — and Rahat said it could be an attempt to signal to the Biden administration that Netanyahu’s concerns about the future of Gaza are largely related to “security.”

“He’s kind of trying to give something to Biden in this sense, like saying, ‘It’s for security — it’s not about taking more land or something like this and building settlements.’ So, I think there is an attempt to give Biden what he wants.”

Rahat and Goren said Biden’s immediate focus is likely on efforts to reach a deal for a cease-fire and to see hostages held in Gaza released. Israel has warned that if the hostages who remain in Hamas’ captivity are not released by the start of Ramadan, which begins on the evening of March 10, it will launch a ground invasion of Rafah, the city in southern Gaza where more than a million people have taken refuge after Israel declared it a “safe zone.”

The Biden administration has said Israel should not launch any assault on Rafah without a credible plan to ensure the safety of the people sheltering there, including thousands of children.

An Israeli delegation was scheduled to travel to Paris on Friday for negotiations for a hostage release and cease-fire deal, an official said, offering a glimmer of hope after Netanyahu dismissed recent proposals from Hamas as “delusional.”

Hamas leaders on Friday left Egypt’s capital, where days of talks on a deal were also taking place.

It was not clear whether any progress was made in the discussions.

On Thursday, White House Middle East adviser Brett McGurk met with members of Israel’s war Cabinet. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said they met in Tel Aviv to discuss Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the hostages who remain there.

McGurk was also expected to meet with Netanyahu the same day, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office, but details on the meeting have yet to be released.

Share this @internewscast.com
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
NJ tech boss convicted of quadruple murder in 2018 killing of brother’s family

New Jersey Tech Executive Found Guilty of 2018 Quadruple Homicide Involving Brother’s Family

A New Jersey technology executive, Paul Caneiro, was convicted on Friday for…
Readers sound off on Stonewall’s flag, Hochul’s reign and ape intelligence

Debate Ignites Over Stonewall Flag, Governor Hochul’s Leadership, and Ape Intelligence Discoveries

An official flag for our cultural achievement Brooklyn: A “gay pride” flag…
Ernest Hemingway’s true love Nobel act

Unveiling the Heart: Ernest Hemingway’s Nobel Prize Love Story

On October 28, 1954, Ernest Hemingway received the news that he was…
Jaden Smith abruptly storms out of interview after being asked about Kanye West

Jaden Smith’s Dramatic Exit: What Really Happened During the Kanye West Interview Question?

Jaden Smith made a hasty exit from an interview when the topic…
Ring-Flock partnership: Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company Flock Safety after Ring Super Bowl commercial backlash

Amazon Terminates Partnership with Flock Safety Following Controversy Over Ring’s Super Bowl Ad

In a recent development, Amazon’s Ring, known for its smart doorbells, has…
Ilia Malinin's free skate stuns at the Olympics. Did he make the podium?

Ilia Malinin Dazzles in Free Skate at the Olympics: Discover His Podium Fate

Leading into the free skate event at the Milan Cortina Olympics, an…
Confessed hitman in Jared Bridegan 'murder-for-hire' case files motion to withdraw guilty plea

Confessed Hitman Seeks to Retract Guilty Plea in High-Profile Jared Bridegan Murder-for-Hire Case

A significant legal development unfolds as Henry Tenon, the admitted assassin in…
Trump comments on why FBI has not yet taken over Nancy Guthrie case, whether cartels possibly involved

Trump Questions FBI’s Delay in Nancy Guthrie Case: Potential Cartel Involvement Explored

On Friday, President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing investigation into the disappearance…
A GIF image of a lethal strike in the Caribbean

US Military’s Precision Strike Neutralizes Caribbean Drug Trafficking Threat: 3 Fatalities Reported

The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) recently announced a significant military operation…
Arizona family sues hospital, says staff ‘Ubered’ sick son to sidewalk where he died

Arizona Family Files Lawsuit After Hospital Allegedly Sends Sick Son Home in Uber, Resulting in Tragic Death

An Arizona family is seeking justice and pushing for reforms after their…
AOC Struggles to Answer If U.S. Should Defend Taiwan

AOC Faces Challenging Question on U.S. Defense Strategy for Taiwan

During a recent discussion on foreign policy at the Munich Security Conference…
Disney's 'ZOMBIES' and 'Descendants' stars return in 'Locker Diaries,' a new, short-form anthology series

Disney Unveils ‘Locker Diaries,’ Featuring Stars from ‘ZOMBIES’ and ‘Descendants’ in a Captivating New Anthology Series

LOS ANGELES — Disney magic meets fresh storytelling in “Locker Diaries,” a…