According to John Mearsheimer in the American Conservative, the offensive has not succeeded in making Israel more secure, Israel's official reason for starting the war. Instead, the attack has simply punished the Palestinians.

Punishing the Palestinians only galvanizes and strengthens Hamas. Hamas is the defender of the Palestinians. To Palestinians, Hamas is of the people, by the people--to use an American phrase. Hamas was democratically elected and serves the interests of the Palestinian people by standing up to the oppressive Israelis. Reports indicate that half of the casualties during the offensive were civilians, not Hamas officials. Attacking civilians only fuels Hamas and adds to its legitimacy with the people. How does Israel expect attacks on their people to cease if Hamas is emboldened?

Mearsheimer suggests in his article that Israel's aim is to break the spirit of the Palestinians and extend control over all of Palestine. He refers to the strategy as the Iron Wall. The Iron Wall strategy seeks a one-state outcome, not the two-state solution that most of the world favors.

Would a one-state outcome improve the security of Israel? Even if Israel was able to break the will of the Palestinians and extend total control over the population and territory, Israel is surrounded by hostile nations. The 2006 offensive on Lebanon succeeded only in strengthening Hezbollah, which seeks Israel's destruction. Iran's government seeks Israel's destruction. Syria is historically a hostile neighbor also. The support of the West is the only real security Israel has.

The West, most importantly the United States, must leverage this fact to force Israel to adopt a two-state solution. Two states in Palestine is the only fair and humanitarian outcome. The current situation is unacceptable. Israel strangles the economies of the West Bank and Gaza Strip with blockades and kills innocent civilians with military strikes. The Palestinians deserve a homeland, security, and prosperity.

Israel pays lip service to the two-state solution while pursuing its own goals. The United States needs to wise up and either apply pressure or abandon Israel's cause. One state in Palestine is only sustainable if the West continues to support the nation of Israel.

Israel's imminent destruction will come from within if it doesn't stop oppressing the Palestinian people. The Palestinians total surrender is doubtful. If and when the West sees the truth behind Israel's strategy, Israel will be stranded in a sea of hostility.