By Maj Gen (Dr) Ashok Kumar, VSM (Retd)
The Hamas – Israel conflict has just commenced on 07 Oct 23. The event started by Hamas by infiltrating across the border with Israel wherein large No of Israeli civilians were brutally killed. While Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) responded aggressively and has been conducting large scale air operations through its Air Force (AF) Wherein some of the top Hamas leadership has been eliminated besides Large No of casualties suffered by the residents of Gaza Strip. Ground forces stand mobilised and reservists called wherein IDF is not only readying to launch the ground offensive in Gaza but is also taking necessary actions against emerging threats from the other countries in the neighbourhood . It has yet to commence the full-scale ground offensive though ground raids based on specific intelligence have already commenced.
Response of Israel will unfold more clearly as we go ahead in time including the conflict being joined by the other nations. But there are two major decisions of Israel’s political parties and its people which must be taken note of. These two major decisions include creation of a National Unity Government and formation of a war cabinet. It is true that Israel is not only fighting to avenge the Hamas attacks but its response will decide the very existence of this country. Such a compulsion may not exist for other democratic nations but all of them need to learn these lessons as applicable in their context. India is no exception and it is not late to think of a National Unity Government being formed in the country along with a war cabinet albeit it may be given a different name like (Transgressions Handling Cabinet) to checkmate the Chinese transgressions across Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the area of the Eastern Ladakh.
Some analysts may find this suggestion very aggressive and probably non implementable in Indian Context given the political outlook of the different political parties. But based on our war experience of 1962 with China, there is a need to look at it more professionally. Before reaching any decision, it is very important to look at what constitutes the ‘war’? Is it merely when two sides join the active battles utilizing their national war fighting resources repetitively or some other events also constitute war/war like conditions? This definition will bring more clarity on the response mechanism. Do the large-scale transgressions by the Chinese all across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh have some of the conditions resembling near war like situations? And if so, it demands a more robust response.
Israeli way is not the only way to respond to such wars/ war like conditions wherein a National Unity Government got created within four days of the Hamas attacking the Israel besides announcement of a war cabinet as all the countries have some structured mechanism to respond to such external threats wherein the ‘party in power’ controls all the resources and utilises them to defend the national interests. However, when the opposing political parties also align the Government in power against the external threats, it gives a newer meaning to the warfighting capability of the concerned nation. When the political parties don’t voice their response in a single voice, the adversary gains the psychological edge which needs to be eliminated for winning the war as and when the necessity so arises.
The way Chinese have betrayed India again since Apr-May 20 including the Galwan clash disregarding all agreements related to peace and tranquility, this transgression event should not be seen through the ‘peace lens’ continuing the robust trade as it is ‘Advantage China’. The way the geo-politics is evolving and newer & newer conflicts are coming to the fore at the multiple locations, India at least now is required to be prepared for any future conflict possibility as China is actively supporting Russia in the Russia – Ukraine war with the tag of ‘No Limit Friendship’. It is also developing its relations with the West Asian nations and may get proactively involved in the Gaza-Israel conflict either to advance and place itself as a ‘peacemaker’ or act against USA’s interests in West Asia.
Indian Defence forces have always remained apolitical and follow the directions of the lawful Government of the country whichever political party it may be. It is therefore all the more reason that the Nation speaks in a single voice to keep the morale of the defence forces high which is the most important factor for winning the war. Formation of a National Unity Government in such situations appears a right step which was demonstrated in Israel after the attack of Hamas despite chilling differences being publicly voiced amongst the political parties on some apparently contentious issues prior to 07 Oct 23. National Unity Government formulation in Israel was a clear cut message not only to Hamas but to the world that all Israeli nationals are together in their national fight . Even a political party which did not join the National Unity Government, expressed unconditional support for the national cause.
There is a need to look at this thought more seriously even in the Indian context. Irrespective of the fact as to which political party is ‘in power’ , it must reach out for creation of a National Unity Government whenever external threats emerge. It is the equal responsibility of all the political parties which are not part of the ruling dispensation to forget their differences and be part of national effort for the nation’s cause in the cases of external threats. Even if India does not adopt the concept of ‘National Unity Government’, a consensus needs to emerge amongst all the political parties as well as the nationals of the country to remain united and echo the single voice in case of external threats at whatever level they emerge. This is an inescapable ingredient of a nation building assured of its wins.
The author is a Kargil war veteran and senior fellow of CLAWS.
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