Professor at Tel Aviv University: Israel lacks a defined war strategy.

Ayal Zisser, a well-known Tel Aviv University professor, recently voiced worries about Israel's handling of continuing hostilities, contending that the nation lacks a clear policy to control its present wars. Writing for Israel Hayom, Zisser noted a concerning trend: Israel seems to be responding to every event instead of adhering to a long-term strategic plan.

In his piece, Zisser criticized the recent removal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, implying that his leaving highlights the lack of a unified command structure. " Critics say no one is guiding the war now, but the reality is Israel was not directing the war; rather, the war was guiding Israel; even under Gallant," Zisser noted.

Lack of a road map for conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon
Zisser underlined that Israel's attitude to crises in Gaza and Lebanon seems erratic since it moves from one operation to the next without a clear road map. This lack of guidance, he said, has caused Israel to enter a reactive posture whereby reaching long-term goals is more challenging. This problem is exacerbated by the mistrust between the Israeli military and civilian leadership since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently hides explicit strategic objectives from the army. "Netanyahu doesn't express his ultimate aims, leaving the military without a clear grasp of its mission in Gaza,’s Zisser pointed out, adding that the cycle of operations has created a protracted conflict with no end in sight."

Retaliation Attacks by Hezbollah and Rising Tensions in Lebanon
Israeli soldiers have ramped up assaults on southern Lebanon since September. Targeting Israeli military locations and settlements in northern Israel, Hezbollah has retaliated with a consistent stream of rocket strikes. Along with ground skirmishes previously documented, this tit-for--tat escalation has resulted in hundreds of rocket strikes on Israeli objectives.

Israel's engagement in Lebanon, according to Zisser, resembles a protracted "war of attrition," in which lack of a clear plan leaves Israel caught in a fight showing no signs of abating. This analogy to a quagmire emphasizes the difficulties Israel has since Hezbollah's military might shows resilience against ongoing Israeli pressure.

Difficulties of an Extended Conflict Without Strategy
With doubts over the long-term military and political goals of Israel, the protracted character of these battles has put strain on Israeli society and government both together. Critics of Israel contend that without a coherent strategy, the nation runs the danger of staying caught in a cycle of military operations with ill-defined objectives, therefore undermining public confidence and hurting relations inside Israel's political and military echelons.