If Netanyahu is Determined to Drag Countries into War…

If Netanyahu is Determined to Drag Countries into War…

The outbreak of wars is not the result of a single spark; the path to war is arduous and time-consuming.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary, attributed as a precipitating event of World War I, was carried out by a Serbian named Gavrilo Princip during Ferdinand's visit to Sarajevo (June 28, 1914). Despite its catastrophic consequences, World War I often receives less attention compared to the second due to its comparatively lower casualty figures.

There was a full month between the assassination and Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, which was backed by Germany against Russia, France, and the United Kingdom (July 28, 1914).

[Estimates suggest that World War I resulted in approximately 17 million deaths on both sides, while World War II claimed nearly 75 million lives.]

If a third major conflict is to erupt, today's geopolitical climate suggests that it might take an even longer time to materialize.

Given the rising tensions in our region, it's unsurprising that some analysts are predicting the imminent outbreak of war.

The recent assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, where he had traveled to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian President Mesut Pezeşkiyan, marks the latest in a series of provocative incidents. Haniyeh was killed at around 3:00 AM yesterday when a bomb exploded at the guesthouse where he was staying.

Just months prior, a bomb attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus by Israel resulted in the deaths of 16 Iranians, including eight commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) (April 1, 2024).

Furthermore, on July 27th, a missile attack on the Druze-inhabited Israeli-occupied Golan Heights claimed the lives of 12 children who were playing soccer. The source of the missile remains unidentified.

Two days ago, on the evening of July 30th, Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in a drone strike south of Beirut.

And just yesterday morning, Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli bombing in Tehran.

Additionally, it is crucial to note that Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, which has persisted for ten months, has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 individuals, primarily women and children.

What is truly happening?

Less than a week ago, on July 25th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the American Congress, receiving prolonged applause from U.S. lawmakers.

Buoyed by this support, Israel, having failed to achieve its objectives in Gaza, might be contemplating an expansion of its war to a broader geography, possibly including Lebanon and even Iran. This is especially plausible considering that Netanyahu has managed to secure backing from members of both major U.S. political parties in Congress, while the United States remains preoccupied with its upcoming elections in three months.

Examining the sequence of events, one cannot help but question if this is indeed Netanyahu's intention. This possibility has been echoed by numerous commentators.

The most pressing question remains: Is this agenda driven by the infamous Lobby, which wields significant influence over U.S. politics, the war hawks in Israel, or the coalition of individuals aligned with Netanyahu's war-centric approach?

This is indeed a grave question.

Yesterday, I highlighted here that Ronald Laurent, one of the most influential figures within the prominent Lobby, contributed an article to Arab News. In it, he advocated for a “Middle East with a Palestinian State and without war,” which, on the surface, seemed to promote peace.

Yet, simultaneously, the flames of war might be subtly stoked. Is this the case?

When it comes to Israel, not only traditional peace advocates but also a broader section of society are vehemently criticizing the current government’s policies towards Gaza and Palestine. Protests show no sign of subsiding.

As for Netanyahu...

Prosecutors are hot on the heels of him and his family members. Charges involving bribery, fraud, and breach of trust have been meticulously compiled and submitted to the State Attorney's Office. Should he lose coalition support in the Knesset and his political seat, it seems inevitable that Netanyahu will find himself incarcerated. [His performance in Congress was likely a maneuver to delay this outcome.]

With unwavering support from his sycophants in the U.S. and his allies in Israel, Netanyahu could potentially drag the world into a war even more traumatic than the previous two.

The events we have observed over the past week seem to be unfolding as part of a meticulously orchestrated scenario by Netanyahu, initiated with his performance in Congress.

This scenario must be dismantled.

FEHMİ KORU / KARAR