Dr. Ibrahim Alloush to ST: The ability of the Zionist entity to practice aggression will no longer be undeterred
The new rule of engagement being written now by the Palestinian resistance is that the ability of the Zionist entity to practice aggression will no longer be undeterred, according to Arab political intellectual Dr. Ibrahim Alloush, who has described the resignation of the entity’s War Minister Avigdor Lieberman as an omen of “Israel’s” defeat.
In an interview with the Syriatimes e-newspaper, Dr. Alloush has explained why the ‘Israeli’ enemy has failed to face the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and how the enemy will deal with the Palestinian message, stressing that Palestine, sooner or later, will be liberated, from the river to the sea.
Following is the full text of the interview:
Q: Why has the “Israeli” enemy, which has a superior military technology, failed to face the Palestinian resistance in Gaza?
A: Because military technology, as important as it may be, isn’t everything. The U.S. had a superior military technology in Vietnam. The Saudis in Yemen have had a superior military technology, and infinitely more resources, and still they stand ineffectual in the face of valiant Yemeni resistance unable to achieve any strategic success. As it stands, the human factor remains the most important variable in war and peace, and popular ingenuity remains the most important variable in liberation struggles. Amongst all of the aspects of the human factor, in crises and in war, the will to fight, to carry on, and to make the sacrifices necessary to go on resisting, remain the most crucial.
Furthermore, the experience the Palestinian resistance has acquired over the long haul is only matched by the deterioration of morale and the depreciation of the willingness to fight and make sacrifices on the Zionist side. Moreover, the Palestinian usage of the guided anti-tank Kornet missile, courtesy of Syria and Hizbullah circa 2009, helped close the technological gap with the Zionists, and left them guessing as to what else the Palestinian resistance may be hiding up its sleeve.
Q: What are the new rules of engagement between the resistance and the Zionist enemy?
A: The Zionist entity has lost many years ago the ability to occupy additional Arab lands and to hold on to them. That was the new rule written by the victories of the Lebanese resistance in 2000 and in 2006. The Zionists, henceforth, were left only with the ability to commit acts of aggression. The new rule being written now by the Palestinian resistance is that the ability of the Zionist entity to practice aggression will no longer be undeterred. The new S-300 in Syria, the massive rocket capability of the Hizbullah, and the burgeoning military capabilities of the Palestinian resistance have meant that the axis of resistance has acquired a deterrence capability against “Israel”, meaning that even the Zionist ability to launch unrestrained aggression is gone with the wind.
From now on, there is a hefty price tag attached to further Zionist adventures. This, of course, may prompt the Zionists to escalate the war-mongering, in the hope of regaining some of their lost military and political ground. But it’s too late for that now.
Q: What has the Palestinian resistance in particular and the axis of resistance in general achieved from the recent operation against the enemy?
A: In the regional picture as a whole, the Zionist entity is no longer a formidable ground force. Its soldiers have become too pampered and timid, and its military has become in need of personal protection. Hence it’s only left with a formidable aerial and technological capability, the ability to fight from afar, but on the ground it has become a paper tiger. It thought it could compensate for that through covert operations, such as the one it tried to execute in Gaza a few days ago, espionage being an “Israeli” trademark, but that too is coming to an end it seems. The ability of the Palestinian resistance to launch extensive rocket attacks in response to the “Israeli” intrusion and ensuing aerial raids imposed a new balance in the scene, marking a turning point in the struggle against the Zionist occupation. That is not to say that the ability of the Palestinian resistance to bombard the “Israel” is even remotely comparable to “Israel’s” ability to bombard Gaza. It is to say that what the Palestinian resistance can do in the way of bombarding Zionists has raised the bar for “acceptable damage”, if “Israel” should decide to bombard Gaza massively again. This must have played a role in Netanyahu’s decision to accept a cease-fire in the aftermath of the Palestinian bombardment of Ashkelon and the Zionist settlements surrounding Gaza, although there are other factors at play here pertaining to political schemes which involved allowing Qatari money and fuel to be funneled into Hamas in Gaza through the Zionist entity, which some analysts believe is part of Trump’s so-called “Deal of the Century”.
Q: In your opinion, how will “Israel” deal with the Palestinian message? Do you expect military escalation against Palestinian people in Gaza??
A: Escalation is a distinct possibility, since frenzied “Israeli” decision-makers are already discussing the dangers associated with the diminished stature that comes with the reduced ability to practice aggression undeterred. Some “Israeli” politicians, especially on the right and far right, consider accepting this situation a death sentence to the continued rule of the right-wing and to “Israel’s” future. So they may be tempted to adopt tactics that they believe may help them regain control of the situation, thus risking war on regional scale. But is that what’s in the cards while steps are being taken in the direction of establishing an “Arab-Israeli” coalition against Iran? That is the question…
Q: It has been said that Lieberman’s resignation is an “admission of defeat”? Do you concur with this statement?
A: Lieberman’s resignation is one of the manifestations of the strategic impasse that the resistance has put “Israel” in. Lieberman, from his perspective, is merely jumping from a sinking ship since he thought Netanyahu has jeopardized his own and the right’s electoral position by agreeing to a cease-fire in Gaza. But Lieberman here is escaping forward to avoid bearing responsibility, as Defense Minister, for the botched infiltration into Gaza. He is also hoping to garner support from the extreme right wing which has been heavily disappointed with the cease-fire in Gaza. In other words, Lieberman and his elk are still playing to the tunes of escalation, bidding their electoral future on extremist rhetoric which is no longer strategically viable. So Lieberman’s resignation is not technically an admission of defeat. It is rather an omen of “Israel’s” defeat.
Q: Who will benefit from this resignation as some media reports stress that there will be early elections and Lieberman could occupy the position of prime minister?
A: Before recent events in Gaza, Netanyahu has been pushing for early elections to escape corruption charges, all the while riding on a wave of “successes”, especially in view of recent normalization forays into some Gulf states, and in view of Trump’s positive overtures (from the Zionist viewpoint) on Jerusalem and relocating the U.S. Embassy there. Netanyahu has also cultivated the image of a “strong man” preserving the security of “Israel”. But now, after Lieberman’s resignation, and the turn of events in Gaza, Netanyahu is holding on with his teeth trying to keep his ruling coalition together and doing his best to avert early elections while the extreme right is split on how to deal with Gaza and Hamas.
Q: What is your message to the enemy’s leaders?
A: Palestine, sooner or later, will be liberated, from the river to the sea. You may sign accords or treaties with Palestinian or Arab leaders. You may manage to normalize relations with sellouts in the Arab World. You may think that you are making progress. The crusaders stayed in Palestine for about two-hundred years. The Romans and the Byzantines stayed several hundred more. The Ottomans passed through, and so did the British and French. Many invaders came and went, since the day of the Canaanites, but the Arab identity of Palestine remained. One day, you will leave too.
Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour