If you haven’t heard of Einat Wilf, a prominent Israeli strategic thinker and former politician, you should. At this time, Wilf may offer the most powerful and effective vision for victory in the Gaza war and dealing with the Palestinian issue.
Unlike many observers and analysts, Wilf’s ideas are premised on long-term strategy and in-depth historical analysis. This gives rise to a unique blend of ideas that defy simple definitions or simplistic black-and-white worldviews.
Wilf’s vision combines pragmatic and hardline views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and specifically on Gaza. She firmly believes in the need for a realistic understanding of Palestinian rejectionism and violence instead of wishful thinking and fantasy.
Wilf warns that Israel faces a “totalizing ideology, known as Palestinianism, executed by Hamas and its enablers” that aims to destroy Israel as the Jewish State.
As to the Gaza war, she insists that Israel must avoid mixing humanitarian gestures with its military objectives, as doing so would only prolong the conflict and provide Hamas with opportunities to regroup.
Hardline approach to Gaza
Wilf has been highly critical of the government’s handling of the Gaza war, arguing that Israel’s policies enable Hamas to survive without paying any meaningful price. She contends that providing aid during the conflict essentially undermines Israel’s efforts to defeat Hamas militarily.
In an interview this year, Wilf asserted that Israel would be best served by a hawkish centrist coalition that is fully aware of Palestinian ruthlessness. This government should adopt a vision of strength aligned with the worldview of Israel’s founder David Ben-Gurion, she says.
Wilf repeatedly slammed the logic of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza during wartime, especially while Hamas remains in control. She believes that delivering aid, such as food, water, and fuel, allows Hamas to survive and avoid an unconditional surrender.
In her view, Israel should not bear the burden of sustaining the population of Gaza while simultaneously fighting a war. Instead, Wilf suggests that the responsibility for Gaza’s humanitarian situation should fall on the international community and those who support Hamas.
More broadly, Wilf has argued that Hamas is an authentic representative of the Palestinian vision to eradicate Israel. As such, she claims that efforts to distinguish between Hamas and Gaza as a whole are disingenuous and misleading, as most of Gaza’s population supports and identifies with Hamas’ brutal vision and desire to terminate Israel.
Wilf also called for pushing residents out of northern Gaza into southern Gaza during the conflict and keeping them from returning until all Israeli hostages are freed. She views this as a necessary tactical measure in the war against Hamas.
Futile peace process
Regarding overall strategy, Wilf contends that Israel’s goal should not be to manage or temporarily suppress the Palestinian issue. Instead, she says that Israel should aim to end the conflict on terms that affirm its right to exist as a Jewish state.
While Wilf does believe in the eventual possibility of a two-state solution, she is adamant that peace can only be achieved once the Palestinians fully and unequivocally recognize Israel.
Particularly, she strongly advocates for insisting that the Palestinians reject the so-called “right of return” as a precondition for any meaningful peace talks. Wilf co-wrote a book, The War of Return, that lays out this line of reasoning in detail.
Thus, Wilf has been highly critical of past peace efforts, which she believes have failed due to the Palestinian refusal to accept Israel’s legitimacy. This rejection, according to Wilf, is not limited to Hamas but extends to most Palestinian society.
She contends that most Palestinians and their representatives continue to hope for the eventual dismantlement of Israel, which makes any peace efforts futile in the current environment.
For Wilf, the foundation of any meaningful peace process is mutual recognition. Israel, she argues, has long recognized the Palestinian right to self-determination, but the reverse has yet to happen.
Until there is a fundamental shift in Palestinian society and leadership – where the existence of Israel as a Jewish state is fully accepted – Wilf believes that Israel must prioritize its security over fruitless diplomatic efforts.
Leading Israeli voice
Wilf’s unique blend of pragmatism, historical understanding, and strategic thinking has increasingly positioned her as a leading voice in Israeli strategic circles.
Her ability to articulate complex ideas and challenge conventional wisdom has garnered attention from policymakers and thought leaders alike.
However, it’s important to note that this article presents only a part of Wilf’s comprehensive vision for Israel’s future and its relationship with the Palestinians.
Her ideas, which span a wide range of topics including diplomacy and military strategy, should be explored in depth to fully grasp their nuances and potential impact.
