Almost six months because it started, Israel’s conflict in Gaza is dragging on. So, too, is the tenure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Israel, some at the moment are asking: Are the 2 linked?
To his allies, Mr. Netanyahu’s refusal to comply with a cease-fire in Gaza is a mandatory one, made within the nationwide curiosity and backed by many Israelis. The considering goes that Israel should cripple Hamas to weaken its hand at cease-fire negotiations.
To his critics, the prime minister is dragging out the conflict to forestall the collapse of his fragile right-wing coalition and prolong his time in workplace. By this evaluation, he has made a home calculus that ignores each the rising world anger in regards to the bloodshed — together with from Israel’s strongest ally, President Biden, which erupted into full view on Thursday — and the rising anger from the households of Israeli hostages who search their kin’ instant launch.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu has lengthy been portrayed as a vacillator who prefers to delay choices for so long as attainable in order that he can maintain all of his choices open.
His technique is attracting renewed scrutiny due to the size of what’s at stake: Israel’s conflict in Gaza, which started in response to a Hamas-led raid on Israel on Oct. 7, has since killed greater than 32,000 individuals, in keeping with Gazan well being authorities. It has led specialists to warn of a looming famine and has stigmatized Israel on the worldwide stage, amid accusations, strongly denied by Israel, that it has pursued a genocide in opposition to Gazans.
The controversy over Mr. Netanyahu’s intentions has been imbued with nonetheless extra urgency by an Israeli strike this week that killed seven support staff in Gaza, escalating worldwide alarm over Israeli navy ways. The Israeli navy took duty for the strike and mentioned it was a case of misidentification.
