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Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas said the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the response to Iran's missile attack are evidence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's need for political survival.
"Netanyahu does not want to end the war. He wanted to prolong the war to create a war-like atmosphere, which is important to him and convenient for him politically," said Israel's former consul general in New York.
Netanyahu's self-styled image as the "Lord of Security" seemed irrevocably shattered by the October 7 Hamas attack, but he has since made a U-turn.
The fight to eliminate Hamas in Gaza remains largely popular in Israel, but it has raised complex questions about the long-term occupation, relations with the Palestinians and conflict with Israel's neighbors, including Iran-backed proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel's war targets have widened to target Hezbollah, and Netanyahu's cabinet is weighing its response to Iran's Oct. 1 missile attack.
"I don't see him ending the war," Pinkas said, citing Netanyahu's repeated rejection of US President Joe Biden's post-war plans for Gaza and refusal to make any ceasefire deal for hostages.
"He doesn't even mention the hostages anymore, there are still 100 hostages in Gaza," he added.
Only a cease-fire in Gaza can bring about a de-escalation in Lebanon, yet the prime minister has refused to see this logic.
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