A former deputy national security advisor for Israel describes the recent attack by Hamas as an “earthquake” that has shaken the country and its people’s sense of security. Chuck Freilich, a professor of political science at Columbia University and a former deputy national security adviser in Israel, made these remarks in an interview with The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson. He states that this conflict has now become a “battle for national survival.” The attack by Hamas militants involved a barrage of rockets into Israel’s south, as well as land and sea attacks, which are being considered as an unprecedented assault.
Freilich emphasizes the severity of the situation, stating that this is one of the worst developments in Israel’s history since the War of Independence in 1948. He highlights the military and psychological impact of the attack, as well as the need for a different level of response from Israel. He believes that Israel cannot accept this situation and must act accordingly.
Regarding the reported abductions, Hamas claims to have captured a larger number of individuals than initially reported. The Israeli military confirms a “substantial” number of abductions, suggesting that more than 100 people may have been taken.
In response to the hostage situation, Freilich mentions that negotiations could be an option but raises concerns about setting dangerous precedents. He refers to a 2011 exchange where over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were released for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and warns against making similar concessions this time. He believes that the military operation must take place regardless of the hostage situation and emphasizes that this is a battle for national survival.
The recent attack has raised questions about an alleged intelligence failure. There are discussions among security experts about how the attack went undetected and was not prevented. Freilich suggests that Hamas took advantage of the domestic turmoil in Israel to carry out the attack, referring to social divisions and protests over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms. He states that Hamas saw this as the perfect timing to attack and unfortunately, they were proven right.
While most of the conflict has centered around the south of Israel, there was also a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the north, which raised concerns about a broader conflict. Freilich expresses concerns about a potential escalation in the West Bank and a regional escalation involving Hezbollah and potentially Iran.
Overall, Freilich believes that Israel is in a war situation and that there is a clear danger of escalation. The focus now is on minimizing the chances of further escalation, but the situation remains unpredictable.
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