Anshul Pfeffer, The Economist's Israel correspondent, and Ed Carr, the deputy editor, dissect the recent unexpected attack by Hamas on Israel. They explore the shocking fatalities, intelligence failures, and the ensuing chaos within Israeli communities. The discussion emphasizes the dire implications for Palestinian civilians and the ongoing shifts in Israeli-Palestinian relations. They also analyze how this crisis could affect Israel's diplomatic landscape and the urgent need for a renewed approach to peace negotiations.
The recent attack by Hamas on Israel exposes a major failure in Israeli intelligence, challenging the belief in their military superiority.
The attack has significant implications for Israel's regional diplomacy and highlights the need for new policies to address the Palestinian question.
Deep dives
Hamas launches large-scale attack on Israel
Over the weekend, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, involving thousands of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and waves of Hamas fighters breaching border defenses. The attack targeted Israeli cities, resulting in casualties and destruction. The Israeli government declared a state of war and called up reservists. International support has been requested and the United States has pledged its backing.
The failure of Israeli intelligence and its implications
The attack exposed a major failure in Israeli intelligence at various levels, including field intelligence and the inability to detect the planning of the attack. The intelligence failure is seen as comparable to the surprise attack in the Yom Kippur War. This failure has shattered the belief that Israel's overwhelming military superiority and intelligence could keep Israelis safe. It also undermines the policy of containing the Palestinian issue and playing factions against each other.
Implications for Israel's regional diplomacy and the need for new policies
The attack has significant implications for Israel's standing in the Middle East and its regional diplomacy. The country's relations with neighboring Arab countries and initiatives like the Abrahamic Accords are under strain, diminishing hopes for closer ties. The attack has highlighted the need for new policies to address the Palestinian question, as the current approach of containment and managing violence has been called into question. There is a lack of consensus on what these new policies should entail.
Almost exactly 50 years on from the moment that launched the deadly Yom Kippur War, Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza strip, carried out a series of attacks. Hundreds have been killed, Israeli intelligence services were surprised and the retribution is bound to be severe. What does this mean for Palestinian civilians, and regional politics more broadly?