Widening rift with the military puts Netanyahu in a tight spot

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Anarchy in Gaza. Credit: Haaretz

Imagine Gaza if Israel were to agree today to a permanent ceasefire and a complete troop withdrawal from the Strip. One of two things would happen: Hamas would return to power and/or continued anarchy in the absence of a credible post-war administration of the territory.

Anarchy is already the rule of the land, with crime, violence, robberies, killings, smuggling, and protection rackets on the rise.

Nevertheless, in its quest for a permanent ceasefire, virulently opposed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners, Hamas may have found a common interest with its nemesis, Israel’s military. Not that the armed forces have given up on destroying Hamas. On the contrary.