While I agree that the IDF should wait before entering Gaza, using serial extensions of the timeframe to evacuate civilians as the rationale. I also think Israel needs to regain the media narrative that, in the US at least, is slowly reverting to form by foregrounding the Palestinian civilians.
Israeli leaders need to publicly demand that Hamas surrender unconditionally, making the point that its situation is hopeless and there is no reason to further the humanitarian catastrophe it initiated.
Also, Israel needs to quote from Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to show that it is complying with international law and that Hamas is the impediment. At the moment, it’s the UN, so-called experts and media that are simply asserting that Israel is committing a war crime with its siege.
That said, with the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike force off Lebanon with the Eisenhower strike group on its way, I think Israel would be making a mistake if it attacked Hezbollah now. Sad to say, without some major (to be defined) Hezbollah action as a predicate, the usual ill-intentioned people will accuse Israel of dragging the US into a shooting war. Israel simply must do better in the media war.
I do not know what the US rules of engagement may be, meaning what must Hezbollah do to incur US retaliation, but that should be the guide to Israel’s posture in the northern front. I assume that Israel has shared targeting information.
Israel should not go it alone against Hezbollah. It should do so with US firepower at its side to finish off Hezbollah more quickly and effectively. But then I have the good fortune to comment from the safety of the US, so take all this for what it’s worth.
The US won't let Israel attack Hezbollah first. It's 1973 all over again. The US interest is containment, even if it means a much worse war with Hezbollah later.
I get where you're coming from but it seems like the US really doesn't want a second front. So if Israel initiates a second front itself, most of that legitimacy will evaporate anyways.
While I agree that the IDF should wait before entering Gaza, using serial extensions of the timeframe to evacuate civilians as the rationale. I also think Israel needs to regain the media narrative that, in the US at least, is slowly reverting to form by foregrounding the Palestinian civilians.
Israeli leaders need to publicly demand that Hamas surrender unconditionally, making the point that its situation is hopeless and there is no reason to further the humanitarian catastrophe it initiated.
Also, Israel needs to quote from Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to show that it is complying with international law and that Hamas is the impediment. At the moment, it’s the UN, so-called experts and media that are simply asserting that Israel is committing a war crime with its siege.
That said, with the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike force off Lebanon with the Eisenhower strike group on its way, I think Israel would be making a mistake if it attacked Hezbollah now. Sad to say, without some major (to be defined) Hezbollah action as a predicate, the usual ill-intentioned people will accuse Israel of dragging the US into a shooting war. Israel simply must do better in the media war.
I do not know what the US rules of engagement may be, meaning what must Hezbollah do to incur US retaliation, but that should be the guide to Israel’s posture in the northern front. I assume that Israel has shared targeting information.
Israel should not go it alone against Hezbollah. It should do so with US firepower at its side to finish off Hezbollah more quickly and effectively. But then I have the good fortune to comment from the safety of the US, so take all this for what it’s worth.
The US won't let Israel attack Hezbollah first. It's 1973 all over again. The US interest is containment, even if it means a much worse war with Hezbollah later.
The element of surprise is now gone.
I get where you're coming from but it seems like the US really doesn't want a second front. So if Israel initiates a second front itself, most of that legitimacy will evaporate anyways.