Pressure on Israel’s Prime Minister: Netanyahu between the fronts

On the one hand, there are demands for a plan for a post-war order, and on the other, there are intransigent right-wing ministers who don’t believe in diplomacy: In Israel, pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu is growing – and not just on the street.

In Tel Aviv this weekend, tens of thousands of people took to the streets again to demand the release of the hostages. Singer Eden Golan, who took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for Israel, sang the song “October Rain” in Tel Aviv with the original lyrics, which had been changed for political reasons.

Hostages recovered

The Israeli army has just recovered four more dead hostages, including the German-Israeli Shani Louk, who was buried in the evening. Anger and sadness repeatedly result in protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on whom the pressure is constantly growing.

Gantz gives Netanyahu an ultimatum

After Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz also accused Netanyahu of a lack of strategy in the war. And he issued an ultimatum: The war cabinet must present a plan for the post-war order in the Gaza Strip by June 8th. The moment of truth has come, the moment of decision. Netanyahu must decide between Zionism and cynicism, between unity and division, between responsibility and lawlessness, between war and catastrophe.

Six-point plan for Post-war order required

Otherwise, Gantz threatens to leave the war cabinet. In a six-point plan, the opposition politician calls, among other things, for a temporary administration of the Gaza Strip by the USA, Europe, Arab states and Palestinians. Compulsory military service should also be extended to all citizens, including the ultra-Orthodox Jews in the country, said Gantz.

This demand has previously sparked controversy within the right-wing government. The fact that Gantz was now adding fuel to the fire again sparked indignation in the right-wing government spectrum. Especially with the right-wing extremist Minister for National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir. “Netanyahu should fire Gallant, Eizenkot and Gantz. They don’t fit into the government,” said Ben Gvir.

Right-wing ministers against diplomacy

The right-wing people in the government don’t believe in democracy. They are also not afraid of dissolving the war cabinet. Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich even suggested that the Israeli army should invade Lebanon with ground troops and permanently occupy the Gaza Strip militarily.

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid, who rejected participation in the war cabinet, always takes to the streets against such proposals. At a protest rally in Tel Aviv, he called on Gantz and Eizenkot to resign from the war cabinet – then the Netanyahu era would be long gone.

Call for new elections

Such an exit and possible dissolution of the war cabinet, which includes Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz as well as retired army general Gadi Eizenkot, would not automatically lead to new elections, but would significantly increase the call for them in society and politics.