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War between Hamas and Israel: for General Vincent Desportes, Benjamin Netanyahu shows “unreasonable intransigence” by refusing humanitarian breaks
Invited on the set of 19/20 info, the general, professor at Sciences Po, former director of the war school Vincent Desportes shed light on the recent diplomatic discussions on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. – (franceinfo)
Invited on the set of 19/20 info, the general, professor at Sciences Po, former director of the war school Vincent Desportes shed light on the recent diplomatic discussions on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Friday, November 3, the head of American diplomacy Anthony Blinken requested humanitarian pauses in Gaza. A proposal met with a categorical refusal from the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Questioned on this subject on the set of 19/20 info, the general, professor at Sciences Po and former director of the war school Vincent Desportes estimated that he demonstrated “unreasonable intransigence”. According to him, Israel has “a problem of legitimacy vis-à-vis international public opinion. The more time passes, the more this legitimacy diminishes.“According to him, public opinion is nevertheless”an essential element” to create “a political situation that would allow peace. Israel must show humanity, this is not a moral problem but a strategic problem.”
According to Vincent Desportes, Israel “crossed the border“of the two great principles of war:”discrimination and proportionality.” A “trap“for the Jewish State, but also for its allies. For the general, the problem also comes”entanglements between the interests of Benyamin Netanyahu“, under legal charges,”and the interests of Israel“. Asked about the highly anticipated speech by Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanese Hezbollah, he believes that “somewhere [la prise de position de Hassan Nasrallah] is good news, because he says: ‘I’m not going.’ For what ? Because he has a lot to lose.”
“The worst would be for public opinion to turn around”
While part of world opinion is calling for a ceasefire, which is not defended by either the United States or the European Union, Vincent Desportes believes that “maybe the ceasefire is not a good thing” unlike humanitarian breaks. According to him, “the worst would be [que l’opinion publique] turns around and Israel is forced to stop its war. (…) October 7 represents the collapse of the Israeli deterrence system, of the semblance of a political solution. We have to think differently and think that everything is resolved in strategy and not in the search for immediate tactical effect.”