The cost of ceasefire: for Israel and for Palestine
JVL Introduction
Belazel Smotrich remains the Finance Minister in Netanyahu’s government, despite his anger at the ceasefire. Itamar Ben Gvir resigned but Smotrich agreed to support phase 1 of the ceasefire on a condition that there would be no Phase 2. Meanwhile his desire and political goal to Judaise the West Bank, the support the settlers – of which he is also one – who live there, illegally under International Law that forbids the settlement of your own population in the territories you occupy. (Lebensraum anyone?).
We are seeing the pulverisation of parts of the West Bank, especially Jenin and Tulkarm in the north as well as evacuations from the refugee camps and at least one hospital. Restrictions on movement have been ramped up not least with new gates appearing outside villages and hamlets.
These are dangerous times even without Trump endorsing ethnic cleansing. The writers here argue that ethnic cleansing is almost the only thing left to Israel since, while it may go on to kill many more Palestinians, they have not won – and cannot win – their war aims of eradicating Hamas and resistance to the occupation.
LL
This article was originally published by Security Context on Sun 2 Feb 2025. Read the original here.
Decision Time in the West Bank: Bracing For Smotrich's Plan
Abstract: As part of the deals made within the Israeli Cabinet to accept the ceasefire, overriding the objections and resignation of one of the most extreme coalition members Itamar Ben Gvir, the government agreed to add a new war objective to those previously established for the Gaza Strip. This entailed a “shift in security concept and a campaign to eradicate terrorism” and to “protect the settlements and settlers” in the West Bank, as proclaimed with confidence by Minister of Finance (and deputy Minister of Defense) Belzalel Smotrich. But it would be a big mistake to assume that the lesson Israel learnt was that the Smotrich’s Zionism should be abandoned. Rather, Israel responded with even more aggressive strategies to maintain differential rights, including population displacement and making much of Gaza unlivable. For Smotrich and his brand of Zionism, a genocidal campaign is the only option. Palestinians have to develop their own strategies to undermine the legitimacy and feasibility of Israeli strategies of maintaining differential rights, either through asymmetric containment or ethnic cleansing.
Loading article text…
What ceasefire? Israel is STILL killing Palestinians on a DAILY basis.. Israel bombed Gaza today. I could provide the footage if anyone wants it. This continues mention of Ceasefire is once again a whitewash of the reality of Israel.. They have broken EVERY ceasefire they ever made. Inc NOW in #Palestine & #Lebanon. I really can’t believe you are printing the narrative of an Israeli ceasefire when everything points to Israel intending to finish the job. Israel signed contracts with BP for the Gaza Gas field,.Israel has US investors already invested in an Israeli tourist resort in Gaza.. I feel like Alice through the Looking Glass most days as Fiction is portrayed as fact.. I did not expect it here on your site though. I’m 66 and I’ve seen it all before.. I didn’t believe the ceasefire was real.. but watching the joy and hope of Young Palestinians who seemed to believe it was soul destroying.. Older Palestinians were less sure but you could see , hear and read their hopes it was finally the TRUTH.. but it’s not..
Cathy, any truth in your comments? names, sources?
“Israel signed contracts with BP for the Gaza Gas field”
“Israel has US investors already invested in an Israeli tourist resort in Gaza.”
Oh really!!?? But never mind, if it’s anti-Israel JVL will publish the comments, no questions asked.
What is certainly true is that the condition of the 3 hostages returned to Israel today indicate 16 months of Palestinian War Crimes against the kidnapped victims. Or don’t Jewish lives count?
The condition of the 3 hostages returned to Israel, unlike that of the released Palestinians, was commented on extensively throughout the world and showed the kind of condition Gazans (those still alive) would now be in at best, apart from their loss of limbs and other injuries. No one suggests that the hostages have not suffered in these circumstances but it’s no surprise that they did not look as if they had just emerged from a health farm. After 16 months of Israeli bombardment, blockade of food/water/power/medical supplies/destruction of schools/hospitals/universities/mosques/churches it’s no wonder. Most will have seen photos and video of Gazan men stripped to underwear, blindfolded, on their knees with arms tied behind their backs in the desert; self-published video of Israeli snipers triumphantly shooting random Palestinians, all carried out by the ‘most moral army in the world’. A grossly underestimate of 47,000 Palestinian, men, women children and babies have been killed and god alone knows how many injured physically and mentally in those 16 months with most of the rest rendered homeless and forcibly moved continually. Speaking of crimes against humanity Israel has proved itself world class in that particular league. Israel’s dream of expelling all Palestinians from Gaza is now articulated by President Trump, eyeing up its real-estate value, allowing Bibi to dare to extend the dream to encompass the entire Holy Land.
Even now the ‘ceasefire’ stage 1 has been violated by Israel by killing more Gazans. The Israelis do not want any form of peace: it wants to “finish the job”.