Managing Conflict: Unintended Consequences
The recent massacre of children at a soccer field in Majdal Shams serves as a tragic reminder that Israel’s strategy of managing conflicts on multiple fronts can lead to unintended consequences. The policy, intended to maintain peace for Israel’s public while keeping enemies at bay, has instead resulted in a stronger, ever-changing adversary.
From the West Bank to Gaza and now in northern Israel, the approach of managing conflicts has not yielded the desired results. Rather than deterring wars, it has inadvertently allowed enemies to grow stronger, as seen with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in northern Israel.
Unlike Israel’s historical defense doctrine of preventing enemies from becoming too powerful, the current strategy of conflict management has left Israel vulnerable to repeated attacks and escalating violence. The recent events in Majdal Shams highlight the need to reassess this approach and consider a shift in strategy to address the evolving threats.
It is time for Israel to reflect on how its management of conflicts has led to tragic incidents like the one in Majdal Shams and determine a more effective long-term strategy to ensure security and stability in the region.