Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. James Stavridis said in an interview broadcast Sunday that neither Iran nor Israel want a protracted war.
“Neither side wants a major war at this point, neither Israel nor Iran,” Stavridis said in an interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM's “The Cats Roundtable.” “Neither country is ready for that.”
Stavridis' interview came as Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas nears its first anniversary. Groups such as Lebanon's Hamas and Hezbollah, which have fought Israel in the Gaza war, are backed by Iran. Many have expressed concern about the possibility of an escalation of the conflict amid recent tensions between Israel and Iran.
“I think we see more of this shadow boxing than actual hard punches landing, which is your point,” Stavridis told Catsimatidis in the interview.
A poll released Thursday found that 60 percent of American respondents support the U.S. policy of “supporting Israel militarily until the hostages are returned,” a key Israeli objective regarding its military operation in Gaza.
But just under half of those surveyed – 49 percent – said they were in favor of the United States “supporting Israel militarily until Hamas is disintegrated or destroyed.”
“The war could end tomorrow if Hamas disarms, surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told parliament last month. “But if they don't, Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas' military power, end its rule in Gaza and return all the hostages home.”
