Israel-Gaza war a potential lifeline for Netanyahu

Israel’s escalation of war in Gaza following the collapse of the ceasefire could provide a convenient lifeline for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as he’s plagued by domestic political insecurity.

The resumption of military offensives in the Gaza Strip, which also included targeted assassinations aimed to decapitate the civilian leadership of Hamas, has left over 400 Palestinians dead, according to local health officials.

In killing the civilian leadership of Hamas, Netanyahu can claim he is removing the possibility of Hamas governance in the enclave, as well as shift attention away from his own political tribulations within Israel.

The benefits of war for Netanyahu are threefold.

Firstly, the return of Ben-Gvir and his party to the ruling coalition strengthens the thin majority Netanyahu had after the former National Security minister walked out of government.

Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician Netanyahu used to establish his ruling coalition walked out of office with his ministers in toe following the announcement of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. However, Ben-Gvir stated, He stated that “if the war against Hamas resumes, with intensity, in order to achieve the objectives of the war that have not been achieved, we will return to the government.”

The resumption of the war has therefore led to the return of Ben-Gvir, an announcement made on Tuesday 18^th, which reaffirms Netanyahu’s leadership of the Knesset.

The re-declaration of war also conveniently delays his own ongoing trial for corruption charges, which he has adamantly publicly denied.

Prosecutors have alleged that Netanyahu exchanged regulatory favours with media owners in Israel seeking positive press coverage – a claim Netanyahu has labelled “absurd”. However, Netanyahu was supposed to provide testimony to court regarding his corruption charges but the Prime Minister requested to cancel the hearing, writing “this morning at 11am an urgent security consultation will take place that will include the prime minister, defence minister and heads of the IDF security.” The hearing was annulled and Netanyahu managed to avoid the witness stand.

Additionally, ongoing domestic instability caused by Netanyahu’s attempt to sack the head of the Shin Bet (internal security) agency after accusing him of failing to prevent the October 7^th, 2023 attack.

Netanyahu benefits domestically from the continuation of war in Gaza because it detracts attention away from his stated intention of firing the head of the internal security agency, a man he accuses of failing to prevent the October 7^th attack in Israel which saw some 1,200 people killed and 251 hostages taken.

Reported by Sky News, Netanyahu said he was planning to fire Ronen Bar which brought immediate criticism from opposition politicians. Netanyahu said, “At all times, but especially during an existential war such as the one we face, there must be full trust between the prime minister and head of the Shin Bet… Unfortunately, the situation is the opposite. I do not have such trust. I have ongoing distrust in the head of the Shin Bet.”

Ronen Bar has publicly accepted responsibility for the failure to prevent October 7^th and said he will step down after a number of sensitive investigations are complete. One of which is believed to be the investigation of some of Netanyahu’s close advisors believed to be taking money to lobby on behalf of Qatar.

“For a year and a half he saw no reason to fire him, but only when the investigation into Qatar’s infiltration of Netanyahu’s office and the funds transferred to his closest aids began did he suddenly feel an urgent need to fire him immediately,” the opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X.

Ultimately, with the war ongoing, investigations into the legality of conduct of Netanyahu and his closest aides are sidelined as the country tries to reaffirm their own security with Netanyahu at the helm – more secure when at war.

AP News, SkyNews, BBC, Maghrebi