India
The tragic events of October 7 have not only rallied Israelis to one another but also fueled criticism against a government widely accused of letting its guard down and plunging the nation into a Gaza war that is rattling the entire region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had a record-long political career of comebacks, now faces a day of reckoning. Public anger, already stoked by the loss of approximately 1,300 Israeli lives, has been further inflamed by Netanyahu’s self-styling as a Churchillian strategist who foresaw national-security threats.
This crisis takes place against the backdrop of social polarization that has grown over the years due to Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition’s judicial overhaul drive. This controversial initiative led to walkouts by some military reservists and raised doubts about combat readiness – doubts now tragically affirmed in the form of significant casualties.
A headline in the top-selling daily Yedioth Ahronoth, referring to the “October 2023 Debacle,” draws a parallel to Israel’s failure to anticipate a twin Egyptian and Syrian offensive in October 1973, which ultimately resulted in Prime Minister Golda Meir’s resignation. Similarly, Amotz Asa-El, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, predicts a similar fate for Netanyahu and his long-dominant Likud party, as he stated, “He will go, and his entire establishment along with him.”
An opinion poll in Maariv newspaper indicates that 21% of Israelis wish for Netanyahu to continue as prime minister after the war, while 66% prefer “someone else,” and 13% remain undecided. If an election were held today, the poll suggests that Likud would lose a third of its seats, while the centrist National Unity party, led by Netanyahu’s main rival Benny Gantz, would gain a third – potentially paving the way for Gantz to take the top office.
Presently, Israelis are yearning for action rather than a ballot, and in response to the mounting counter-offensive that could lead to a ground invasion, Gantz, a former military chief, has set aside political differences to join Netanyahu in an emergency cabinet.
Netanyahu, who has been engaged with top military brass and foreign emissaries, has limited his public interactions. His wife has visited one mourning family in response to the growing outcry. Notably, Netanyahu has yet to accept personal accountability for the situation, despite his top officials acknowledging the failure to anticipate and prevent the tragic attack on civilians.
While Israel has garnered vocal Western support for its counter-offensive, the situation may change if a Gaza ground invasion results in increasing Palestinian casualties and military losses. The war also threatens two key aspects of Netanyahu’s foreign policy: peace with Saudi Arabia and efforts to contain Iran.
Military planners anticipate that the Gaza war, with its goal of annihilating Hamas, could continue for months, providing Netanyahu with a political truce for the duration. However, concerns about the prime minister’s health, especially after receiving a pacemaker in July, are also on the horizon.
Some commentators suggest that the rifts within Israeli society, which have contributed to national security issues, extend beyond Netanyahu alone. The call for unity has grown louder amidst the criticism, with political analyst Amit Segal stating, “It’s not too late to repair. Stop quarrelling – now.”
As the public heap scorn on certain cabinet ministers, it appears that divisions are already surfacing within the government coalition. Asa-El points out that even natural Likud supporters are expressing unequivocal hostility, and the collective anger is only expected to escalate as Netanyahu seemingly evades personal responsibility, leaving the public yearning for accountability.
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