Israel’s Bold New Strategy: Transitioning from ‘Mowing the Grass’ to Achieving ‘Complete Victory’

The recent shifts in the foreign policy of the Zionist regime signify a pivotal moment in the Middle East, transitioning from a strategy of containment to one focused on achieving complete dominance. This change, particularly highlighted since the events of October 7, 2023, marks a significant evolution in how the regime addresses security threats and interacts with its neighbors.

The previously dominant strategy, referred to as the “mowing the grass” model, was employed for years to manage threats from various groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This approach involved periodic military operations designed to contain adversaries without altering the broader regional dynamics. Adam Taylor from the Washington Post encapsulates this strategy with the analogy: “The phrase implies the Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and their supply of crude but effective homemade weapons are like weeds that need to be cut back.”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett emphasized the importance of this strategy in 2018, stating, “He who does not mow the grass, the grass will consume him.” The “mowing the grass” model relied on airstrikes, targeted assassinations, and limited ground confrontations, aiming to prevent escalation and minimize long-term costs. Notable instances of this strategy include:

• The attacks on the Gaza Strip in 2008, 2012, and 2014, which were aimed at crippling Hamas’s military capabilities.
• Efforts to establish deterrence against adversaries through calculated military responses.

While this strategy provided relative short-term stability, it ultimately faltered in October 2023, when Hamas orchestrated an unprecedented attack on the Zionist regime, resulting in significant casualties and captures of its personnel.

In the wake of the October 7 attack, there has been a marked shift towards a new strategy termed “complete victory.” This change indicates a departure from the mowing strategy, as the regime now seeks total annihilation of its enemies and aims to reshape the regional order to reflect Zionist supremacy. Since the attack, the regime has intensified military operations against:

• Hamas in Gaza
• Hezbollah in Lebanon
• Ansarallah in Yemen
• Iran and Syria

This new approach is characterized by a willingness to occupy regions, such as parts of southern Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and to conduct repeated strikes in Lebanon and against Iranian targets. Netanyahu has articulated a vision for regional stability aligned with Zionist interests, even suggesting aspirations for a “Greater Israel.”

Thomas Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Syria, remarked on this shift, indicating that the Zionist regime now perceives the boundaries drawn by the Sykes-Picot Agreement as “meaningless.” In a recent podcast, Barrack emphasized that Israelis feel a need to expand their territory for self-protection, indicating a significant change in Tel Aviv’s perspective on borders.

However, this aggressive strategy has birthed chaos in the region, exacerbating tensions in Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria. Instead of fostering stability, Netanyahu’s tactics have resulted in increased instability, evidenced by:

• The death toll in Gaza surpassing 63,000 due to ongoing military operations.
• Significant casualties in Lebanon, including high-profile assassinations.

Despite tactical victories, the strategic ramifications of the new approach have been counterproductive. Arab nations that previously moved towards normalization with the Zionist regime through the Abraham Accords are now reconsidering their stances. Saudi Arabia, which was close to normalizing relations prior to the October 2023 events, has since shifted its position, making the establishment of a Palestinian state a prerequisite for any future agreements. Recent reports from the Washington Post highlight that these countries are now advocating for regional stability and distancing themselves from unilateral actions taken by the Zionist regime.

Notably, despite the efforts and military actions of the Zionist regime, its adversaries—including Iran, Hezbollah, Ansarallah, and Hamas—continue to endure. This resilience, coupled with international pressures, such as European nations pushing for the recognition of Palestine, has introduced significant challenges to Netanyahu’s ambitions.

Influential international relations theorist Stephen Walt, in discussions featured in prominent media outlets like the New York Times, asserts that while the Zionist regime has successfully weakened its enemies, the overall regional order remains rooted in unresolved conflicts and the persistent Palestinian issue. He notes that the upheaval in Syria, the weakening of the Resistance Axis, and assaults on Iran, while temporarily bolstering the regime, have not led to a stable geopolitical environment. Walt emphasizes that without a political resolution for Palestine, Netanyahu’s aspirations for a new order are unlikely to materialize.

In summary, the transition from the “mowing the grass” model to a strategy of “complete victory” under Netanyahu reflects a desire to redefine the Middle East landscape. However, this new approach has fostered regional chaos, diplomatic isolation, and the enduring strength of its adversaries, creating a profound deadlock. Countries that once leaned towards normalization now regard such moves as perilous. Walt’s insights reinforce the notion that without a fundamental shift in relations with Palestine, any new order in the Middle East will merely perpetuate the existing conflicts, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Netanyahu’s revisionist plans.

Mohammadreza Moradi is the Director General of International and Foreign News at Mehr News Agency.