Concerns grow among Israel's political, security circles
Date
7/22/2024 8:06:46 AM
(MENAFN) With the negotiations for a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at a standstill, there are growing concerns among Israel's Political and security circles that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might open a new battlefront for which he is unprepared. This fear is heightened by the multiple ongoing conflicts Israel is engaged in, which threaten to broaden the scope of the regional turmoil.
A fierce debate is taking place in Israel over the possibility of opening a new front against the Houthi group "Ansar Allah" in Yemen. This debate is further complicated by the significant challenges on the Lebanon front, the ongoing war against Gaza, and the persistent attacks by Palestinian resistance groups. Israeli politicians are increasingly worried that these conflicts could push the region to the brink of a broader war.
Internally, pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to finalize the prisoner exchange deal before his planned departure to Washington on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden. Securing this deal is seen as essential to prevent the regional conflict from escalating, by achieving a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. According to Israeli media, unless a mediated agreement with Hamas is reached, the multiple fronts in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and even with Iraqi resistance factions will remain active, with a high likelihood of escalating into a widespread regional war.
There is a particular fear that continued clashes between Israel and Yemen could spark a large-scale regional conflict. This concern intensified after Israeli authorities attacked Yemen's Hodeidah port, a critical hub for delivering economic aid to the country. This attack was in retaliation for the Houthi group's drone strike on Tel Aviv, which Israel's defenses failed to intercept despite the drone's long journey of over 2,000 kilometers.
The situation escalated further when the Houthi group announced that it had targeted the city of Eilat with ballistic missiles, declaring that its operations would continue until Israeli aggression against Gaza ceases. This escalating series of attacks and counterattacks raises the specter of a broader conflict, with both sides seemingly unable to avoid further escalation despite their apparent reluctance.
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