Israel Firmly Rejects Pakistan's Mediation Bid in Middle East War, Endorses India as Preferred Peace Broker
As the devastating conflict in the Middle East entered its second grueling month, international efforts to de-escalate the violence and push for a sustainable peace settlement have intensified significantly. In a notable development, Pakistan has attempted to position itself as a key diplomatic player in these high-stakes negotiations. However, this move was met with a swift and firm dismissal from Israel, whose envoy instead expressed a clear and unambiguous preference for India as a far superior mediator in the complex regional dispute.
Israeli Envoy Details Multi-Front Conflict and Military Gains
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, a special envoy at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided a detailed assessment from Jerusalem in an interview with the ANI news agency. She described the conflict as having expanded almost immediately after its inception. "We have been involved in a multi-front regional conflict since October 7th, when we were attacked by Iran's proxy, Hamas, from the south," Nahoum stated. "Then, on October 8th, we were attacked by another Iranian proxy from the north. Unfortunately, this multi-front reality has been our situation for a long time now."
Highlighting the developments over the past month, she pointed to what she characterized as substantial degradation of hostile military capabilities. "Today, after a month, we see considerable military gains. Approximately 80% of the rocket launch capabilities of the Islamic Republic have been destroyed. Their entire naval force has been eliminated. Moreover, the entire top echelon of their military leadership and a significant portion of their political leadership have been largely destroyed," the envoy claimed emphatically.
Claims of Iranian Regime Instability and U.S. Dual-Track Strategy
Nahoum further asserted that there is growing internal instability and chaos within the Iranian regime. "We observe daily cracks appearing in the regime's leadership, defections from the Basij militia, and absolute strategic chaos at the moment. They are essentially firing rockets at any country they can target. I believe there have been considerable and decisive military achievements on our part," she added.
On the evolving approach of the United States, Nahoum underscored what she described as a dual-track strategy that skillfully combines diplomatic overtures with sustained military pressure. "At every single moment, at every critical crossroads in this conflict, President Trump has consistently offered opportunities to negotiate a peaceful settlement. It has been the intransigence and refusal of the Islamic Republic that has prevented any settlement, and nothing else," she explained.
She elaborated that this approach strategically allows space for potential de-escalation while maintaining relentless pressure on the ground. "This is a sound strategy—to always provide them with a ladder to climb down from the tree, so to speak, while simultaneously continuing to make military gains to degrade their capabilities when necessary," Nahoum remarked.
Sharp Criticism of Pakistan's Diplomatic Overtures
Commenting directly on reports of Pakistan attempting to play a mediatory role despite lacking formal diplomatic ties with Israel, the envoy expressed profound skepticism and criticism. "I genuinely do not understand what the Pakistanis believe they are accomplishing. It appears they are merely trying to make themselves relevant in a situation where they have little standing. Pakistan itself is a significant problem in the global landscape of jihadi terrorism. They can certainly attempt to mediate, but I am highly doubtful they will achieve any meaningful success," she stated bluntly.
No Compromise on Iran's Nuclear Program and Praise for India
On the critical issue of Iran's nuclear program, Nahoum ruled out any possibility of compromise in the strongest terms. "Absolutely not. We cannot tolerate a regime that openly calls for total destruction while simultaneously pursuing weapons of mass destruction. There can be no compromise whatsoever regarding the nuclear weapons they possess or their rapid enrichment capabilities. This is a non-negotiable red line," she declared firmly.
In a notable contrast, when referring to India's diplomatic outreach and balanced positioning, she acknowledged New Delhi's unique role. "India is a very close and valued ally of Israel. As you know, your Prime Minister was here in Jerusalem just a few days before this war erupted. We fully understand that India maintains excellent relations with a wide range of nations. In my view, India can be a much more effective and credible mediator than Pakistan. However, we must wait and observe how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks," Nahoum concluded, highlighting the strategic preference for Indian diplomacy over Pakistani efforts.
