Former Netanyahu Public Diplomacy Chief Argues Against a Broad Ground Offensive Now

Ran Baratz, former Head of Public Diplomacy for Netanyahu and one of the right's most prominent commentators, says it would be a mistake to launch a broad ground offensive in Gaza now, with Hamas and Iran dictating the timetable.

In a post put up on social media, Baratz wrote: "I am silent and wondering, wondering and silent. But in the end I have to say, and I know this isn't the public attitude, but it is my duty: It would be incorrect to launch a broad ground offensive in Gaza at present."

Baratz explained that "The Iranians are not stupid. They were ready for and are expecting this response, while we are in a major intelligence fog. The danger that this is a multi-front trap is high. We mustn't underestimate the enemy. The goal right now needs to be to stabilize the situation and the borders. This is much more urgent, because all the sectors are heating up."

He added that "We also need to understand how and what we didn't see. We learned that there a lot of blind spots regarding the enemy which we thought we knew almost everything about. This is a dangerous situation. Vengeance will come. The price will be paid. It is a historic duty. There's no debate or discussion. And of course will exact a maximal cost in the meantime, but not in territorial occupation. Not in the conditions they (the Iranians) are forcing on us and which they built and prepared for a long time, while we were in the dark."