‘India is a better mediator than Pakistan’: Israel’s Middle East war envoy

As the war in the Middle East enters its second month and efforts to de-escalate and promote peace gather pace, Pakistan seeks to position itself as a key diplomatic player. An Israeli envoy, however, firmly denied Islamabad’s role and instead made clear his preference for India as a “better mediator”.Israeli Foreign Ministry envoy Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told the ANI news agency in Jerusalem that the conflict expanded almost immediately after it broke out. “We have been involved in a multi-front regional conflict since October 7, when we were attacked from the south by Iran’s proxy Hamas. Then on October 8, we were attacked by Iranian proxies from the north. Unfortunately, multiple fronts have been happening for a long time.“She highlighted developments over the past month, noting a significant decline in enemy capabilities. “Today we see, a month later, considerable military gains. 80 percent of the Islamic Republic’s rocket launches were destroyed. The entire navy was destroyed. The entire upper echelon of their military leadership and political leadership was destroyed.”“She also claimed that instability within Iran was growing. “We see every day the cracks in the leadership of the regime, the defection of Basij, and the absolute chaos in their current strategy. You know, they’re just launching rockets at any country they can reach. So I think there’s been considerable military gains. “Regarding the evolving U.S. approach, Nahum highlighted what she called a two-track strategy that combines diplomacy with military pressure. “At every moment, at every crossroads, President Trump has always given the opportunity to negotiate a solution. It is the intransigence of the Islamic Republic that has prevented a solution, that is all.”This approach allows room for de-escalation while maintaining pressure on the ground, she added. “I think it’s a good strategy to always give them a ladder to climb down from the tree, but at the same time, continue to achieve military results and destroy them if necessary.”Commenting on reports that Pakistan was trying to play a mediating role despite lacking diplomatic ties with Israel, she expressed skepticism. “I mean, I don’t know what the Pakistanis think they’re doing. I think they’re trying to make themselves relevant. They’re a big problem in their own right in the world of jihadist terrorism. But, you know, they could try. I’m not sure they’d be very successful.”She ruled out any compromise on Iran’s nuclear programme. “No, absolutely not. We cannot have a regime that demands total destruction and at the same time possess weapons of mass destruction. There can be no compromise on the nuclear weapons they have, or they can quickly enrich them. “Talking about India’s diplomatic outreach, she acknowledged New Delhi’s balanced stance. “India is a very close ally of Israel. As you know, your prime minister came here only a few days before the war. We know India has good relations with every country. If you ask me, they can be a better mediator than Pakistan. But let’s see how things unfold.”