Israel racks up victories in its plan to reshape the Middle East

On October 9, 2023, two days after Hamas caused the deadliest day for Israel (about 1,200 dead) with its surprise attack, Netanyahu spoke a phrase that sounded like a desideratum rather than a plan: 'We are going to change the Middle East. This is only the beginning.'

“On October 9, 2023, two days after Hamas caused the deadliest day for Israel (about 1,200 dead) with its surprise attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke a phrase that sounded more like a desideratum than a plan: 'We are going to change the Middle East”

El País

His air force was then dropping nearly a thousand bombs a day on Gaza, killing hundreds of people daily.

El País

Two years and a half of wars later, Gaza is a wreck buried under the concerns of foreign ministries (with the Israeli army neither rushing nor pressured to withdraw from more than half of Gaza that it controls) and Netanyahu is now embarked on completing his 'dream' (in his words) for decades: to topple the Iranian regime, his great regional rival.

It is the latest episode of a path in which Israel had never attacked so much, so far and in so many places.

Since 2023 it has bombed seven territories (Iran, Yemen, Qatar, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza) and controlled more territory in several of them, with a view to remaining 'forever', as Defense Minister Israel Katz has said.

The war launched two weeks ago against Iran is a victory for Netanyahu from the first minute, merely by involving Donald Trump, the only president who has embarked on such an adventure for the world's largest military power, the United States.

The article traces a shift toward militarism and expansionism in Israel, describing a path since Hamas's 2023 attack that prioritizes force and territorial reach over diplomacy.

It notes that Israel has embraced militarism and expansionism after two decades of periodic offensives, and speaks of a strategy of 'mowing the lawn' that seeks to deter or neutralize perceived threats while expanding influence.

El País

Critics point to a broader project to define borders in biblical terms, with Defense Minister Katz talking about achieving strategic depth.

The piece also highlights how Netanyahu has reframed Iran from a nuclear-only concern to include its ballistic missile program, even as Israel itself possesses missiles.

It recalls a December meeting in Florida between Trump and Netanyahu, where reporters pressed about support for an attack on Iran, and Trump answered affirmatively, reinforcing the perception that the United States backs aggressive action.

A Haaretz columnist is cited describing this as the Israeli version of a weapons-free Middle East, a frame that casts Israel as the dominant power shaping regional rules.

The narrative notes that Israel has enjoyed military and intelligence superiority and maintains a tight bond with the United States, even amid a Hague genocide accusation and arrest warrants over Gaza.

“On October 9, 2023, two days after Hamas caused the deadliest day for Israel (about 1,200 dead) with its surprise attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke a phrase that sounded more like a desideratum than a plan: 'We are going to change the Middle East”

El País

It describes how regional dynamics have shifted, with Lebanon and Syria illustrating the limits of diplomatic language as Israel and its allies press for strategic gains.

The article recounts Lebanon's November 2024 ceasefire after two months of fighting, with Israel agreeing to withdraw from Lebanese territory and to halt bombardments; it says Israel later announced five military positions would be maintained, a move the United States—along with France as a guarantor—legitimized.

In Gaza, it describes ongoing Israeli bombings despite a ceasefire, and in Syria it notes Israel’s gains amid the collapse of Bashar al-Assad and the practice of occupying the Golan Heights since 1967.

Analysts depict these developments as evidence of Israel’s military dominance, while raising questions about how durable security can be when such power reshapes the regional order.

Analysts warn that turning military dominance into durable security remains an open central question of Israeli policy.

One analyst cautions that an Israel that emerges from this war as militarily unbeatable could become more politically isolated, as large-scale power does not automatically translate into lasting legitimacy or stability.

El País

The piece frames this tension as a long-standing issue at the heart of Israeli strategy: can unwavering military supremacy in the Middle East yield durable security, or will it provoke increasing resentment that undercuts long-term goals?

The text emphasizes the need to assess whether the current trajectory will yield stability or deepen regional tensions, despite Israel's hard power advantages.