Israel’s leaders talk about security, but what happened to peace? - opinion
Peace has all but disappeared from Israeli political discourse since October 7. Israel must look beyond military victories toward a political future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been a proponent of peace, with the word appearing frequently in his campaign slogans. However, the frequency of his mentions of peace has decreased over time. In 2023, Netanyahu spoke about peace extensively at the United Nations, but the numbers have dropped significantly since then. Netanyahu is not alone in this shift; most other Israeli politicians, including opposition leaders, rarely discuss peace with the Palestinians.
The political climate has changed since the Hamas invasion of October 7, with the focus now on security, territory, and deterrence. Israel now views territory as essential, with buffer zones and military control seen as existential. This shift in security doctrine, however, does not mean that peace is impossible. Past failures in peace efforts were due to a lack of enforceable security guarantees and accountable leadership.
For true peace, Israel must achieve verifiable demilitarization, enforceable security arrangements, and a transformed Palestinian governance. The disappearance of the word "peace" from political discourse could signal a shift in Israeli priorities, potentially undermining any possibility of lasting peace.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
