If Israel continues to act with wisdom, determination and patience – then in about a year, in Amidror's assessment, Gaza will be a threat like that which exists today from Jenin or Tulkarem
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Galilee residents will return to their homes and the Air Force will operate in Lebanon in the way it operated in Syria during the last dozen years, with Hezbollah occasionally trying to fire individual missiles against Israel – and these will be intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, including by the laser that will enter service and ease (as a complementary means) the economic burden of interception
Iran - serious, intelligent and dangerous enemy
Israel will focus on a long-term campaign against Iran
Iran is a serious, intelligent and dangerous enemy at a great distance and therefore the main risk it can create is 1. the one stemming from its missile capability 2. and certainly if it has nuclear weapons in the future
The military must concentrate on these two components and undermine the regime Iran must not be allowed to build new or renewed threats around Israel’s borders, even at the cost of war
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A region where Iran has no strong proxies and Iran itself struggles to deal with long-range warfare against Israel and its allies
In Israel’s north as in its south, Israel must invest many resources to build the Gaza envelope and the north of the country in a way that creates a more robust, flourishing and prosperous civilian space
The broader diplomatic move should focus on renewing complementary efforts to the “Abraham Accords” meaning expanding Israel’s connections throughout the Middle East and beyond and formalizing them
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A strong Israel – that emerged from the October 7, 2023 crisis severely hurt its enemies, proved its internal and military strength and renewed its economic prosperity – will be an essential component in building a different Middle East
This situation will strengthen the US’s position in the Middle East and allow it to rely on Israel when it needs to focus on other regions in the world
As long as the fighting continues, preparing the diplomatic move behind the scenes is right
After the end of the military chapter (which needs about a year of exhaustion time in Gaza) it should be developed with great momentum
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This is where the international community, especially the US can greatly contribute to stabilizing and prospering the Middle East
*IDF Major General (retired) Yaakov Amidror is a Distinguished Fellow with the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and former National Security Advisor to Israel’s Prime Minister
