If Rafah is attacked, Israel will have nothing to show for its unwinnable war

IBenjamin Netanyahu is said to be in a dilemma over his planned attack on Rafah. On the one hand, there is the intense pressure that President Biden is putting on him; Israel’s remaining friends and potential allies in the region; the EU and the UK; the rest of the international community; the judges at the International Court of Justice; the pope; much of the Israeli public is desperate for a hostage deal; and, for what it is worth, the Palestinian people who happen to live together in this part of the Middle East.

This global coalition invariably implores the Israeli government not to proceed as civilian deaths, including children, will inevitably occur and the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. According to the aid organizations, this also includes the spread of disease and man-made famine. As always, there is the possibility of another direct confrontation with Iran, not to mention Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels and other members of the “Axis of Resistance.”

On the other side are Mr. Netanyahu’s hardline Israeli nationalist political allies, their supporters, a minority in the country and the prime minister’s near-term political future.