Can Israel Win Its War with Hamas? A Conversation With Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak

As the Israeli-Hamas war enters its sixth month, the conflict shows no signs of abating. The humanitarian plight of Gazans continues to deteriorate while the  prospects of a major Israeli ground campaign in Rafah looms. At the same time, the negotiations surrounding a potential hostage deal appear stalled, and the possibility of a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire seems increasingly unlikely.

What are Israel's current objectives in the conflict? How do tensions along the Israeli-Lebanon border factor in, and what of rising tensions with Washington? Aaron David Miller welcomes former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak back to the program to discuss the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war.

[@atiqueatiqullah6079]

God is watching everybody...

[@SionTJobbins]

no he/she/it isn't. Grow up.

[@stefanhall3219]

What a damn mess! It is a Catastrophe!

[@michelleper5065]

he is a criminal of the highest kind..

[@Foster-rv6ty]

​@@michelleper5065Who is a criminal?

[@michelleper5065]

@@Foster-rv6ty the one who wears that 8 million on his wrist......

[@ranenporat6907]

Just a reminder for those who get to read this comment- Mr prime minister barak was one of the worst prime ministers in israel’s history, being overthrown by his own government after about 2 years, and being replaced by Netanyahu. Since then he is at an unsuccessful mission of endlessly attacking Netanyahu’s goverments, failing again and again to get back to Israeli politics, and lastly leading a protest movement against judicial reforms which involved the supposed resigning of military reserves as a protest which in already established by documents was one of the considerations of Hamas before the attack due to their analysis about the IdF situation

[@Gphilly819]

Do you agree with the judicial reforms on Netanyahu ? And netanyahus alliance with far right parties who do not serve in the IDF ?

[@shamashmx1]

i believe he was ousted by Sharon

[@patriciakimball8150]

@@Gphilly819I do.

[@laylaahmed1997]

Nethanyahu ignored the warnings of hamas attacks.. nethanyahu also gave the greenlight to bomb gaza knowing hostages are spread anywhere in gaza.. nethanyahu is also the leader who gave the greenlight to the idf who then shelled a house in the kibbutz where not only hamas militants were inside but also israeli civilians.. nethanyahu is also the one who told saka to add lies on what happened on oct 7th regarding the women and children yet no proof of anything saka claims has happened. Nethanyahu is that same guy who still cnt provide evidence to his claims about unwra where now many countries hve suspended funds..all that just to use starvation as a weapon..

[@zusvayman549]

​@@Gphilly819Yes, I do

[@stefanhall3219]

Petraeus failed misersbly in Iraq!

[@michelleper5065]

duh but this is not the case... the case is that blue sunny day....

[@bikerd12]

“If I were a Palestinian at the right age, I would have joined one of the terrorist organizations at a certain stage.” - Ehud Barak. Why would he say something like that?

[@wg3951]

Because he knows the reality of their bloody occupation.

[@bikerd12]

@@wg3951 Correct.

[@user-ij9fb5iy4y]

because he's saying what we're all thinking.

[@sunnymitra6372]

​@@wg3951So, why doesn't he leave Israel

[@zusvayman549]

@@wg3951 exactly. Palestine is occupied by 17 million of Arabs

[@Studio-gt2te]

It's all for the Oil and Gas Reserve worth half a trillion Dollars, and the Value of the Property in Gaza which is worth a Trillion Dollars to be sold for Kushner as he stated recently.

[@allenmoses110]

About the craziest post ever.

[@patriciakimball8150]

In any case, Israel should reclaim Gaza for itself, IMHO.

[@yehudabendavid1]

There is no oil in Gaza, furthermore there is no conspiracy other than the libel. age old." it's all about the Benjamins" Omar

[@OllytheOl]

And give it's citizens voting rights in Israel? ​@@patriciakimball8150

[@sunnymitra6372]

Gaza oil Reserves are nothing compared to what was found on Israeli offshore Oil Reserves

[@eyalschnider]

this prrson sold us.

[@cinnaminson0653]

Do you really think it was a good idea to colonize Gaza? Please. It was idiotic.

[@atiqueatiqullah6079]

God will decide

[@alrosano5786]

Occupations are hard work 😓!

[@maxsmart99]

In the US past presidents don’t mouth off and criticize the current leader of the country. In Israel it’s just the opposite. These guys should just retire with grace.

[@ckidd2436]

Netanyahu should retire to Miami.

[@zusvayman549]

I wrote a piece about Lebanese commanders abandoned by PM Barak. Their fate was not good.

[@rozy3959]

Barak is a disgrace.

[@christopherzaccheus]

He was a close friend of Jeffrey Ebstain?

[@arikkatzenberg4498]

Thanks for the incel point of view from your dark basement

[@patriciakimball8150]

Ehud Barak is a Bad Guy.

[@stefanhall3219]

When I meant Netanyahu during the the Yom Kippor War and I saw how arrogant he was,then I knew intuitively that Netanyahu would be the Doom of Israel.And now it is so strange when I see the realization of my great apprehension and foreboding! However if I had expressed myself I would have been laughed at!

[@michelleper5065]

2700 clicks... this should have 27 million clicks... see how the ds works? you all sold your freedom for a bag of potato chips and an iphone

[@helgefredriksen7962]

Did you Actually talk to Netanyahu in october 1973 yom kippur?

[@terriej123]

I don’t see that “a lot has been accomplished”. Khamas still seems to be doing just fine. The host should’ve asked him what he meant by that.

[@allenmoses110]

The idea of bringing Arab countries in to run Gaza is a bad idea. This could cause needless conflict between Israel and those countries.

[@willdon.1279]

And the alternative is - ANY Western country? Russia?

[@sunnymitra6372]

Egypt was actively supporting Hamas

[@willdon.1279]

@@sunnymitra6372Considering Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood - anathema to Egypt, that seems surprising. And no local Arab countries get any benefit from this conflict going on. (the racist "street mobs" are different, of course)

[@PapakShirazi]

Endorsing a regime change that bolsters the democratic movement from within is deemed imperative for Iran, particularly in the context of the Persian Gulf region. Such a transformation holds the potential to mitigate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, foster peace, and bolster stability both regionally within the Middle East and globally.

[@michelleper5065]

sold your freedom for a bag of potato chips and an iphone... "never foeget"!

[@user-yz2pp9uu8f]

The problem is occupation. How’s that going to end the occupation?

[@sadiq7700]

What a ludicrous statement. How's that gonna change the desire for resistance among the Palestinians against brutal unjust decades long oppression and occupation? You think someone who has their 12 year old put in an Israeli military prison without charge on the suspicion of throwing stones need Iran to fuel their rage? We'd have a better chance for peace if focused on the wrongs and injustices of succesive Israeli governments over the decades. Look in the mirror before looking elsewhere.

[@stan26967]

Blaming Iran for Israel’s atrocities is easy for Israelis because they don’t want to look in the mirror to realise they have become what they hated ( the Nazis) Israel’s occupation & massacre of the Palestinians have been ongoing way before Iran’s involvement or even before the Iranian revolution that brought in the government that stood against Israel’s atrocities & that’s why the West & their media demonise Iran but the World is awake & knows the true evils!

[@willdon.1279]

@@user-yz2pp9uu8f/ michelleper - the vast majority of Iranians would support Western liberal society enthusiastically. (as would 50% of Afghanis, and more in that area)

[@davidtamiran]

It definitely can!

[@anthonybernstein9698]

Israel has had the world's finest generals, great leaders, strategists, fighters, away and beyond most countries. They have won many battles where they have been greatly outnumbered, When it comes to politics the generals think that this is where their future lies.They all excel in academia, commerce and industry but never in politics. Israel has never had a top general, a leader of the IDF, ever, succeed in being a PM who has ever served their full term in office. The only soldier to survive in the political arena is Netanyahu, he was only a medium ranking combat officer. Why do top generals fail in politics? What do they lack? Is it because generals work out the strategies, give orders, Prime Ministers are told what to do to remain in power, by advisors who have never held a post in Parliament. They think they know what needs to be said and done.

[@ckidd2436]

They are authoritarian, which doesn't work well in democracy. Also, they know of no solutions but military action. They're lousy at diplomacy. Not well suited to politics and democracy.

[@MahmoudWaz]

Actually the Arabs were outnumbered in 1948. The Israelis had more men and better weapons.

[@arioazadirani4705]

He already lost the loosing tactics they were showing to the world for occupation.

[@alrosano5786]

Six months of a prison riot ?

[@WWeiss-nv5vz]

Can Barak accept that the retreat from Lebanon under his leadership will now cost Israel thousands of lives?

[@SionTJobbins]

interviewer needed to cut across Barak more often, Barak allowed to talk too much and not answer questions. He always does this. He's interesting and an important voice but he needs to shut up sometimes for people to ask questions.

[@mussaratahmad5649]

Not just emotional trauma for Palestinians,it is causing emotional and physical trauma to Isrealis .

[@user-rr6no2kc6t]

Comparison is an insult.

[@morenikeahmed5019]

😮

[@stoso9864]

End the evil occupation

[@simchalebovitch6944]

That's right. End Hamas' rule of terror over poor, innocent Gazans.

[@stoso9864]

@@simchalebovitch6944 once hamas goes will you then allow a 2 state solution or will you keep the apartheid occupation going?

[@simchalebovitch6944]

What apartheid occupation? They had their own state. Since August 2005 until this current period, Gaza had been a state within a state, much like the Vatican State within Italy. Once the desired to wipe Israel off the map has disappeared from amongst the Gazans, then things should go back to Gazan self-rule within Gaza. From now on I hope that the Gazans education is centred towards them being able to do well in the world instead of the cycle of death and destruction that has been its purpose up until now. If they change their outlook they have the potential to have a great life of happiness, freedom and prosperity.@@stoso9864

[@richardmoss5934]

the west was squarely behind the installation of the Hashemites and the creation of Jordan, take the issue up with them!!

[@Arikatorza12]

There is no occupation in Gaza since 2005. Hamas was elected later to ruin the place and create a terror state!

[@davidsuissa6247]

When Bibi hears "the day after," he hears HIS day after. As long as there's no day after, he stays in power.

[@arikkatzenberg4498]

Can u read my mind now?

[@user-vz6me6po2z]

David said Jewish is a God selected people,Ged way.

[@garyyarus579]

Informative and helpful in informing our community. Thank you!!

[@michelleper5065]

would be much more helpful for the community of this individual was in prison

[@helgefredriksen7962]

​@@michelleper5065yes. The regime is criminals including military leaders. 94% of the people support the bombing. It has become a gigantic lynching-mob supporter by the regime. This regime/people (lynching-mob) is armed with bunker-buster and they use it to bomb civilians, not pure military bunkers. This serial-crimes is totaly unacceptable by any standard but supporter by president and primeministers of Western democracys that reveals Hypocracy and racism and mockery of International law.

[@user-yh7mo6ri6s]

Nonsense!

[@jimmyhat3438]

Deep State War Propaganda

[@aaron.aaron.v.b.9448]

There are several ways to understand this. Please elaborate.

[@michelleper5065]

@@aaron.aaron.v.b.9448 there is only one way to understand this... use your head... maybe ehud should have a 15 million dollar watch on him... 8 million is not enough...

[@aaron.aaron.v.b.9448]

@@michelleper5065 I don't even see him wearing a watch. His official net worth is also not that high (more all in all in the reaches of $10-15 million). Maybe you have other information. But to clarify further, are you general in favour of a greater amount of equality or do you only take issue with politicians getting rich?

[@michelleper5065]

@@aaron.aaron.v.b.9448 lol.... you go but what google say eh? this is the problem as i said you sold your freedom for a bag of potato chips and an iphone

[@aaron.aaron.v.b.9448]

@@michelleper5065 You did not even reply. Are you in favour of more equality in society or are you just picking on politicians at random? What is the society you want?

[@Abma]

This guy just waffles aaron couldn’t get a word in edgeways.

[@user-ol9dv6rk5x]

المعيب في موقف الدول العربية المطبعة ان قصف المدنيين واستهداف المستشفيات وحرب التجويع للمدنيين والأطفال بداءت تحصد حياة الأطفال ومطار حلب يقصف. بينما لم تقم اي دولة عربية مطبعة بقطع العلاقات او تعليقها او حتى سحب سفير واحد بل ان بعضهم مصر على إمداد أسراءيل بالمواد الغذاءية المعلبة والطازجة.. هي كرش الملح في جروح الشعوب العربية وخاصة الفلسطينية... أليس من العار على الأنظمة العربية المطبعة انها متخلفة كثيرا عن الكثير من دول العالم بما فيهم امين عام الامم المتحدة في موقفهم في دعم الظلم الصارخ التي الذي يلحق بالشعب الفلسطيني . هذا موقف متخاذل سيذكر لقرون طويلة من الاجيال القادمة.

[@ilyapolishuk5126]

ربما تريد حقًا أن تكون تحت حكم حماس أو داعش.

[@user-yh7mo6ri6s]

All bu llls hit?

[@esfiryelin9306]

Shame on Ehud Barak, you is a biggest enemy of Israel today, you wants power in Israel, but not you not yours friends receive it, people understand what are you now, and still remember how you was opening door in front of bandit Arafat. You are barren flower, even though, you are a general.

[@akbarfarzin9857]

Can Jeffrey Epstein lie about hime ????

[@davidrothschild719]

When the Messiah comes the Arabs will leave on their own accord Israel-West Bank-Gaza-Jordan-Syria-Lebanon-Southern Turkey-Half of Iraq

[@bidhrohi12]

I'm very pro-Palestinian, been protesting for Palestinian statehood for many years. I'm opposed to Israel's occupation of Gaza and the WB. And yet I respect the moderation and sensibility on display here. Even if he hates the Arabs and Muslims, for the sake of his own people, Netanyahu should've employed more consciousness for civilians and planned better for the outcome of all this. I also condemn the Muslim/Palestinian/Arab/Left failing to condemn Hamas and seeming to do everything they can to make this into some kind of sport of annoying Israel, even at this great cost of lives. It seems there's very few adults in the world now. And the people on both sides suffer for it.

[@JoshLavian]

He doesn't hate them, and he's following international law in this war; this is just one of the most densely populated areas on earth, so it's inevitable to have casualties like this. I don't know why you've been "protesting for Palestinian statehood for many years" when the former PM in his very clip tried to make that happen decades ago, and Bibi himself tried to over a decade ago. I wish people would understand this. The conflict still raging to this day is not Israel's fault

[@robford3211]

@jodhLavin Saying that Israel is not responsible for the last 80 years of ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide is equivalent to saying that Germans were not responsible for the Holocaust

[@americo7965]

Ive never heard as much bullshit from either person

[@user-vz6me6po2z]

Shalom,David and Balak.I said be clearly,you'd better back down from Gaza land of Israel for God given us ground.Jacob

[@rosem5041]

Get lost, you are occupying it!

[@stephenrhee8343]

❤ Right Honorable Prime Minister Ehud Barak ❤ ALL Humanity's can will live in peaceful Kibbutz Kingdom like you had awesome Love of Almighty God in your upbringing. Let's have DPRK'S Right Honorable Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un & His sister to Pilgrim visit to Yerushalaim ❤Share Vision of HOLY God in Prime Minister Barak and Global families will hear Your Vision which is God's I am positive that is DPRK'S as well❤

[@Cvb318]

He is a fraud

[@mendoza4789]

He is best friends with mossad agent Jeffrey Epstein. Loved his island

[@michelleper5065]

fraud is a complement... and his 3 year "pri minister ship".... is nothing compared to his real status.....

[@michelleper5065]

lol much much worse!

[@Foster-rv6ty]

You mean momo

[@arlenegojocco7518]

This was a sorely disappointing discussion. Yes, you have your differences and criticisms with the current Israeli government. But making it public doesn't help! You're not helping the current situation. You're both out of line! Discuss them in private! Both of you are like Biden and Schumer!

[@juliarosenberg6088]

But Israelis are discussing everything openly. Can't change our nature. I appreciate your concern, I really do.

[@davidsanders6647]

Israel has to win.

[@mohamedbarre4189]

Hamas is still even in northern Gaza. Israel can’t finish Hamas. Palestinians have no option other to fight back to attain their freedom. No foreign forces can take over Gaza against the wish of Palestinians. Israel want take other people’s land but no resistance. Will that be possible?

[@helgefredriksen7962]

Yes. Palestinians and palestinian freedomfighters has moral, ethics, and International law on its side resisting 105 years of occupation, theft, and tyranni by UK (from 1917) and invading european zionists, and later israelis. People of palestine and ukraine has the right to selfdefence against the invading occupiers israel/russia.

[@inmyopinion651]

There was never a military solution. Only diplomatic solution will bring peace. How could Netanyahu ever expect total victory as he calls it when the leadership is in Qatar with billions of dollars?

[@mohadelassi6079]

Just a fantasy

[@willdon.1279]

I'll say it again: all of human history is littered with injustices as bad, and worse, than the Nakba. Some quite recent. If we are never to live, accept, and move on, humans are condemned to live a permanent "Vendetta" Not an appealing future. The ones likely to be the worst off, the original "victims"

[@F4R4D4Y]

The IDF offensive should have BEGUN in Rafah! Hamas would have been destroyed in a vice grip by the IDF. Victory ✌️ for Israel 🇮🇱 and the IDF! What Ehud should do is swallow his pride and roll up his sleeves, and help to do something. This is a rambling rant like a crybaby might give. Almost 80% of the Israeli voting population stands with the current Israeli government as of the most recent polls.

[@leonsweid1717]

What can I learn from this failed politician.

[@SamA7x]

Better yet - what can I learn from this Epstein associate?

[@MrLoughneagh]

Free Palestine 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 🇵🇸