American THAAD in Israel
It has been reported in the news that the United States will deploy the THAAD missile defense system in Israel.
It remains to be seen whether this new system deal will facilitate the acceptance of Resolution 1701 for a ceasefire, or if this system will destroy diplomatic avenues and lead to a devastating war.
After Iran’s missile attack, dubbed Operation True Promise 2, and the missiles passing through Israel’s Iron Dome, Israel considered deploying this system on its soil. Twelve days have passed since this attack, and Israel has not yet reacted, although there has been talk of a heavy and surprise attack.
In the meantime, speculation about a deal between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu is not far-fetched. The potential deployment of the THAAD defense system and strengthening Israel’s military arsenal in exchange for not launching a large-scale and heavy attack on Iran.
Of course, this does not mean that Israel will refrain from limited attacks. The second speculation is that Israel will launch a heavy attack on Iran, to which Iran will retaliate, making the need for a missile defense system in Israel more pressing than ever.
Meanwhile, yesterday Netanyahu, under the pretext of Hezbollah’s human shield, asked UN peacekeeping forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, indicating continued attacks in southern Lebanon and a war of attrition in Lebanon despite international regulations.
After a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu and the US opposition to striking Iran’s nuclear and oil facilities, Israel has not yet reacted. The Democratic Party knows that attacking Iran’s oil facilities and the subsequent rise in oil and gasoline prices will make it difficult to garner votes for the party and will bolster Trump’s voter base, as Biden had also warned Ukraine against attacking Russian refineries due to reduced supply and rising gasoline prices.
Therefore, the interests of the United States and the Democratic Party lie in preventing Israel from attacking Iran and de-escalating tensions, with a preference for a war of attrition in southern Lebanon before the US elections.
However, whether Netanyahu and his cabinet will be satisfied with limited attacks on Iran in exchange for acquiring the THAAD missile defense system, or if they will create conditions for Trump’s return, who is more aligned with them, remains to be seen.
They have been gathering evidence of Iran’s knowledge of the October 7 attack and Iran’s involvement in this attack, as part of efforts to sway public opinion against Iran and to justify a potential attack on Iran.
Now we must see whether this new system deal will facilitate the acceptance of Resolution 1701 for a ceasefire, or if this system will destroy diplomatic avenues and lead to a devastating war.