[News] Israeli deterrence against Iran collapsed, PIJ deputy chief says

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-deterrence-against-iran-collapsed--pij-deputy-chief>
Israeli deterrence against Iran collapsed, PIJ deputy chief says
Al Mayadeen English
April 16, 2024
------------------------------

The deputy chief of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement underlines that
the Israeli occupation is fighting a losing battle as "Israel's" strategic
influence is diminishing.
[image: 2820fb12-e70b-4244-b099-74679960326b.jpg]

   - Palestinian Islamic Jihad deputy Secretary-General Mohammad al-Hindi
   during an interview with Al Mayadeen, April 16, 2024 (Screengrab)

The Israeli occupation's strategic influence is diminishing at all levels,
and it cannot support itself on its own without aid from the United States,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Deputy Secretary-General Mohammad al-Hindi
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--seeking-to-displace-gazans--pij-deputy-chief-to-al>
told *Al Mayadeen *on Tuesday.

"The balance of power is changing; America has its own problems and
challenges, and Israel does not have the support or capabilities to assert
dominance in the region," the Palestinian top Resistance official
underlined.

"There are new rules of engagement today," al-Hindi said, stressing that
Iran's retaliation was a mere preliminary warning to the Israeli occupation.

"The West is complicit in Israel's crimes in Gaza and Palestine and covers
them. Yet, we're ahead of a new landscape that necessitates reassessments,"
he added.

The United States, the PIJ deputy chief said, does not want a regional war
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-at-un--further-israeli-mistakes-to-lead-to-more-severe>,
especially as it is during an election year, which implies that it would
rather not back an Israeli attack that would bring escalation.

"Gaza today is the battleground that damaged Israel most as it tarnished
the occupation's image due to the fact that it is facing Resistance
factions perfectly capable of manufacturing their own weapons despite the
imposed blockade," he underlined.

Moreover, al-Hindi wondered how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
sought to avoid a regional war as he sought a "tough response" to Iran's
retaliation.
'Israel' must pay the price

"The Americans and Israelis want to retrieve the captives at the lowest
possible price, but that issue the trump card in our hands," he said. "The
proposal that was presented as one drawn up by the mediators is an Israeli
paper par excellence, and some of the terms in it are deceptive."

Al-Hindi went on to tell *Al Mayadeen *that the resistance submitted its
response to the proposal and that it made it clear that withdrawal was a
pivotal part of any agreement, though it said that a withdrawal could be
gradual. Another core demand is a ceasefire, which the Resistance stressed
could also be gradual.

"Israel is forced to pay a price through the deal because of its strategic
military failures on the battleground," the PIJ deputy chief stressed.

"There is more to come [...] We have more time for Israel to realize that
it must pay the price," he added. "Israel's deterrence in the face of Iran
has ended."

"Israel is facing a real impasse and its options are limited," al-Hindi
concluded. "It has grown to appear weaker, and its strategic importance has
diminished. Many countries will reassess [their ties to Israel] after the
war is over."
'Israel', US lost deterrence

The Israeli newspaper *Israel Hayom* considered that Iran's retaliatory
attack
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/irgc-launches-retaliatory-attack-on--israel--with-10s-drones>
 against Israeli targets is a stark reminder of the loss of Israeli and US
strategic deterrence, highlighting that it created an opportunity to change
the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

The newspaper indicated that Iran has put itself in direct confrontation
with "Israel", even at a time that does not seem optimal for it, and has
acted against US President Joe Biden's warning not to.

It suggested that Iran "has established a sophisticated strategy
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/iran-s-attack-stark-reminder-of-lost-us--israeli-deterrence>
and is patiently, endlessly trying to create a reality where there becomes
a question mark about Israel's existence, not just a theory."

Elsewhere, the newspaper stressed that "Israel" must prioritize and focus
efforts on attempting to harness the United States, alongside a large
Western alliance, to deal with the Iranian attack to restore deterrence.

In a related context, the Israeli news website *Walla!* cited a security
official as saying that "Israel's" response to Iran's retaliatory strikes
may include targeting military infrastructure and weapon depots, extending
to assassination operations against officials.

The security official added that estimates indicate the Iranians have not
yet said their final word, pointing out that the main battleground would be
in the Gaza Strip, and therefore, "we should not expect broad-scale attacks
on Iranian interests."
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