While observing Israel’s latest action in attacking the freedom flotilla, one can reach a conclusion that Israel’s policy in using force will lead the area to war [singlepic id=237 w=300 h=210 float=right]soon. The current Israel government has been working since several months to prepare for the next confrontation in the Middle East.

The Israeli army made several exercises and training to evaluate its capability in both launching a war and defending a possible attack in any moment. Not only this but the security forces have trained itself very well to know how to deal with the Israeli population while in war. The diplomatic effort to gain an international support for a possible Israeli attack is in its high levels.

Israel continues to try to convince the world that it is its right to “defend” its people in any way whether it is attacking a rising power in the area or continuing a siege such as the one on Gaza. The Israeli belief in the use of force as the best choice to deal with its conflict with the Arabs is pushing the Israeli leadership to choose war to get out of the pressure which it is facing because of its refusal to make any kind of improvement in what is called “negotiations” and because of its determination to continue its occupation of lands which are considered occupied by the international community.

Today’s incident and the Israeli decision to attack the humanitarian – aid ships with excessive use of force that resulted in killing more than sixteen peace activists is a part of a bigger Israeli plan made to deal with current situation that Israel is facing. The Political leadership was acknowledged of the situation and insisted on attacking the ships to prove that Israel is controlling in the field. There is no real claim to justify the attack and the arrest of the people who were on the ships that can go along with the International law that Israel claims to use as a standard in dealing with the conflict. Israel failed to justify it’s action exactly as it failed in justifying its stubbornness in refusing a real peace process with the Palestinians.

The Israeli army does not work alone and the political leadership of Israel affects its reaction and way of acting. The current political leadership is made of rightist and extreme Israeli parties which are ready to launch wars that would cost the life of hundreds of civilians only to satisfy their desire in controlling all the land and in challenging the Arabs and reminding them that Israel is still number one in the Middle East.

Although the Israeli leadership thinks that its strategy of using excessive force is the best to empower its deterrence power and control in the area, in reality nothing seems to be close to the Israeli wanted outcomes. Israel today is in one of its worst situations while talking about its relations with Turkey and Europe. Israel’s relations with the Arab countries that it signed peace with are also in danger because of the anger of the Arab peoples. Not only this but Israel will soon lose its claim that it is making peace with the Palestinian authority since the latter will retire and quit because of the failure of its political program that is based on the principles of peace and negotiations.

The only outcome which Israel will bring for itself will be similar to the outcome of its last two wars in Lebanon and Gaza: more anger within the Arab peoples, more criticism from the International community and greater risks on the existence and security of its people. The Israeli leadership is blinding its people and confusing them and therefore if the Israeli people want the interest of its state it must move soon or it will find itself on its way to a great war without the possibility to move backwards.

Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad

A Palestinian-Arab living in East Jerusalem, Ziad graduated from College Des Freres in Jerusalem in 2003. Ziad finished his major in International Relations and English Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ziad is a former President of the Watan student movement at the university. He is interested in Middle Eastern political issues and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Founder of the Middle East Post and MEL (Middle East Future Leadership Network), he represents Palestinian youth at several international conferences.

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