Israel Shifts Strategy: From Conflict Management to “Peace Through Force,” Raising Fears of Re-Occupation and Expanded Settlements
JERUSALEM – A significant shift in Israeli political strategy is underway, moving away from decades of “conflict management” towards a more assertive approach of “peace through force,” according to analysts. This change, emboldened by the current right-wing coalition government and fueled by the aftermath of the October 7th attacks, is raising concerns about a potential re-occupation of Gaza, expanded settlements in the West Bank, and the effective abandonment of a negotiated two-state solution.
Recent months have seen increasingly vocal calls for the re-occupation of Gaza, notably from within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Likud party. Miki Zohar, a prominent Likud figure, has been a leading voice advocating for a more hardline stance. This rhetoric, analysts say, was amplified by former US President Donald Trump’s vision of a “riviera of the Middle East” replacing Gaza.”The reason why this discourse is so visible today is the weight of this coalition that allows it to control the political agenda,” explains Reef Itzhaki, director of impact at the israeli Institute for Regional Foreign policy (MITVIM). The extremist ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, known for their messianic objectives, have consistently pushed for the reconquest of Gaza.
This shift extends beyond Gaza.There’s a growing push to accelerate Israeli implantation in the West Bank, territory occupied since 1967. Zohar stated last Sunday, “I am in favor of the request of sovereignty to all the territories of Israel. It is a response to terrorism… they will not receive neither state nor territory.”
According to Itzhaki, Netanyahu is now basing his political strategy on perceived military victories in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, aiming to declare a unilateral peace by neutralizing regional opponents. This approach effectively sidelines diplomatic solutions and the negotiations associated with customary “conflict management.”
“But to be an integral part of the region, cooperation with its various actors and the desire to participate in a political consensus with the Palestinians are necessary,” Itzhaki argues, highlighting the potential for long-term instability.
In practise,this new strategy is manifesting in the construction of new settlements in the West Bank,further fragmenting Palestinian territories. This expansion directly contradicts international law and undermines any prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
The move towards “peace through force” represents a stark departure from previous israeli policy and signals a potentially dangerous escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The implications for regional stability and the future of a two-state solution remain deeply uncertain.
Keywords: Israel, Gaza, West Bank, Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Territories, Conflict Management, Peace Through Force, Settlements, Re-occupation, Miki Zohar, Reef Itzhaki, MITVIM, Two-State Solution, Middle East, Politics, International Relations.
