Israeli Government Divisions Deepen as War Cabinet Minister Calls for Elections
Divisions within the Israeli government are deepening as war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot suggests that the key war aim of defeating Hamas is unrealistic and calls for elections within months. Eisenkot’s remarks come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to achieving “complete victory” over Hamas. However, Eisenkot believes that a strategic achievement has not been reached and that the Hamas organization has not been demolished.
The Israeli war cabinet, established after Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7, includes ministers who are already at odds with one another. This internal rift is now surfacing and causing growing discontent with Netanyahu’s war plans. Eisenkot argues that fresh elections are necessary because the public no longer trusts Netanyahu’s leadership. He emphasizes that lack of trust during a war is just as severe as lack of unity.
While the cabinet was created to demonstrate unity, it fails to hide the major differences in policy and approach among its members. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, states that these divisions are becoming more apparent every day. Political scientist Reuven Hazan adds that as the war surpasses the 100-day mark, divisions are inevitable and becoming worse.
Eisenkot’s call for elections is driven by his belief that the government has failed to prioritize the release of hostages, which he sees as the highest priority. He argues that saving civilians should come before eliminating the enemy. A poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute in November shows that while Israelis overwhelmingly support defeating Hamas and retrieving hostages, they consider the return of hostages to be more important.
The tensions between Israel and its strongest ally, the US, have also been escalating. Netanyahu strongly rejects the idea of a post-war scenario that involves the creation of a Palestinian state, which the US and other countries have called for. He believes that a Palestinian state would compromise Israel’s security. Hazan predicts that the relationship between Israel and the US will worsen, particularly because Netanyahu wants to hold onto power.
Several Israeli politicians, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, have called for fresh elections. Barak warns that Netanyahu’s current strategy risks alienating the US and leaving Israel stuck in the Gaza conflict. Once the war ends, attention may shift to Netanyahu’s pre-war shortcomings, including responsibility for the October 7 attack. Plesner suggests that Netanyahu may not be eager to face this phase due to his situation in public opinion.
An opinion poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute shows that only 15% of Israelis want Netanyahu to remain prime minister after the war. Benny Gantz, the former Defense Minister, is seen as a likely successor to Netanyahu. Hazan argues that it is in Netanyahu’s political and survival interests to continue the war, as it positions him against the Biden administration and allows him to reject a Palestinian state.
While some believe that Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict to stay in power, Plesner disagrees. He emphasizes that war decisions do not come solely from Netanyahu and that there isn’t significant support for a permanent ceasefire that may empower Hamas further.
In conclusion, divisions within the Israeli government are deepening, with war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot calling for elections due to a lack of trust in Netanyahu’s leadership. The government’s failure to achieve its highest priority of securing the release of hostages has caused internal rifts. Tensions with the US over the creation of a Palestinian state have also strained relations. Netanyahu’s political survival may be at stake as attention shifts to his pre-war shortcomings. Fresh elections may be on the horizon, with Benny Gantz emerging as a potential successor.