(AP file photo)
As the war in the Middle East enters its second month, efforts to de-escalate and push for peace have accelerated, with Pakistan trying to position itself as a major diplomatic player.
However, an Israeli envoy strongly rejected Islamabad’s role, expressing instead a clear preference for India as a “better mediator.”Flor Hassan-Nahoum, a special envoy for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told news agency ANI from Jerusalem that the conflict expanded almost immediately after it began. “Well, we have been engaged in a multi-front regional conflict since October 7, when we were attacked by Hamas, Iran’s proxy, from the south.
Then on October 8th, we were attacked by an Iranian proxy from the north. And so multiple fronts are actually something that’s been happening for a long time, unfortunately.
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‘India is a better mediator than Pakistan’: Israeli envoy says Islamabad is trying hard to be relevant
It highlighted the developments that occurred over the past month, and pointed to what it described as a significant deterioration in hostile capabilities. He added: “Today, we see that after a month, there are significant military gains. 80% of the Islamic Republic’s missile launchers have been destroyed.
The entire navy was destroyed. Their top military leadership and political leadership have been completely destroyed.
“It also claimed increasing internal instability within Iran. “And every day we see cracks in the regime’s leadership, defections from the Basij, and absolute chaos when it comes to their strategies right now. They are, you know, sending missiles into any country they can get their hands on.
“So I think there were significant military gains.”Regarding the evolving American approach, Nahum emphasized what she described as a dual-track strategy that combines diplomacy and military pressure. “At every moment, at every crossroads, President Trump has always given an opportunity to negotiate a settlement. It was the Islamic Republic’s intransigence that did not reach a settlement and nothing else.”She added that such an approach allows room for de-escalation while maintaining pressure on the ground. “I think that’s a good strategy to always give them a ladder to get down the tree, but at the same time, continue to make those military gains to destroy them when we have to.”Commenting on reports that Pakistan is trying to play a mediation role despite the lack of diplomatic relations with Israel, she expressed her doubts.
“I mean I don’t know what the Pakistanis think they’re doing. I think they’re trying to make themselves relevant. They themselves are a big problem in the world of jihadi terrorism. But, you know, they can try. I’m not sure they’ll have much success.”
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Do you support the dual track strategy of diplomacy with military pressure?
Regarding the Iranian nuclear program, any settlement was ruled out. “No, certainly not. We cannot have a regime that calls for mass destruction and at the same time possess weapons of mass destruction.
There can be no compromise when it comes to the nuclear weapons they have, or they can enrich quickly.Referring to India’s diplomatic outreach, she acknowledged New Delhi’s balanced position. “India is a very close ally of Israel. As you know, your Prime Minister was here just a few days before the war. We understand that India maintains great relations with everyone. It can be a much better mediator, if you ask me, than Pakistan. But let’s see how things develop.”