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Hardly a day after terminating the Gaza truce with intense bombing campaign On the Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has achieved several individual successes that bolster his political standing in the coming months, leading many opponents to believe that he is reigniting the conflict for his personal benefit.
In spite of considerable backlash at home, criticism from major partners—though notably absent was the U.S.—and considering the substantial social and economic strain another round of military operations would impose on a nation already drained by over a year of conflict, Mr. Netanyahu affirmed his intention to intensify assaults following Tuesday’s bombing which resulted in more than 400 casualties. Palestinians In one of the most lethal attacks since the beginning of the confrontation.
“From now on, Israel "Will intensify actions against Hamas...negotiations will occur solely amidst conflict," he stated, linking his choice to the halted discussions regarding the release of 59 captives, primarily Israelis, from Gaza.
Mr. Netanyahu didn’t point out that the operation also enabled him to avoid testifying during his ongoing corruption case, reinstated a prominent far-right politician who leads a crucial faction within the ruling coalition, and deflected public backlash over his efforts to dismiss the head of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar—each significant achievements paving the way for him to approve the national budget by month’s end. Should he fail, this could lead to the dissolution of Parliament and trigger fresh elections.
" numerous Israeli residents pondered the grim query: were the renewed hostilities in Gaza and the breakdown of the truce initiated due to strategic military concerns, or could they be linked to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s personal political survival? " noted commentator Avi Issacharoff in his piece. Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Wednesday.
The prospect of renewed fighting in Gaza reignited a protest movement calling for the government to prioritise the release of the hostages. The protesters, who say Israeli bombardment and the breakdown of negotiations with Hamas for their release puts the captives' lives in danger, are now also openly accusing the prime minister of advancing his own goals at the expense of the country.
On Wednesday, several thousand demonstrators marched down a motorway towards Mr Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem, where they planned to set up a tent camp. Scuffles broke out with police, as protesters tried to break through barriers chanting “democracy” in Hebrew, a refrain from the mass protests against judicial reforms proposed by the government that gripped the country before the war was triggered by Hamas's attack in October 2023.
The new demonstrations have attracted leading figures in Israeli security circles. At a rally in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo described the prime minister as “dictator Netanyahu”.
“You, the suspect Benjamin Netanyahu, pose a clear and present danger to the nation’s security,” he added, hinting at the years-long corruption trial Mr Netanyahu has been battling.
Following his eventual testimony towards the close of the previous year, Mr. Netanyahu has been attempting to postpone his court dates, frequently mentioning security issues as justification. The clashes on Tuesday provided him with precisely what he was looking for.
This move enabled him to bring National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his political party back into the coalition, even though the attorney general had advised against this action as being legally unsound. Mr. Ben-Gvir, a prominent right-wing figure who has been convicted of terrorism-related offenses, previously exited the coalition due to objections over the truce agreed upon in January. Additionally, he seemed satisfied with efforts aimed at dismissing Mr. Bar.
Mr. Ben-Gvir returned to the scene just one day following an accord between the administration and his party, wherein they agreed he wouldn’t cast a ballot against Israel's initial legislation of the forthcoming national budget, thus securing a strong legislative backing for the government. Without his acquiescence, approving the budget could've been extremely difficult due to potential opposition from ultra-Orthodox parties within the alliance who threatened to defy the cabinet should conscription be mandated for youth in their communities—a stance widely frowned upon across Israeli demographics.