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Amid the series of ongoing disputes within the Israeli government, and between the political and military levels in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to challenge internal and external opponents, in an attempt to save himself from the Gaza impasse. Will he succeed in doing so?

The head of the Department of Political Science at Hebron University, Dr. Bilal Al-Shobaki, confirms that Netanyahu, despite the dilemmas he faces, still enjoys the support of an extreme right-wing street, in addition to being aware of the weaknesses of his opponents, meaning that the right’s threats to pressure him are in fact empty because they are concerned with survival. In the government he leads.

As for the other opponents, such as the Minister in the Israeli War Council, Benny Gantz, and the opposition leader, Yair Lapid, they are all investing in the current scene, and therefore there is no need for them to turn the tables on Netanyahu.

As for Netanyahu's weaknesses, they are represented in the state of division within the Israeli War Council, as this council was at the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip a symbol of Israeli unity, but today it has become a burden on Netanyahu, as Al-Shobaki said.

According to the Palestinian writer and political analyst, Ahmed Al-Haila, Netanyahu has 64 seats in the Knesset thanks to the support of the extreme right-wing parties, and this number may jump to 68 if a consensus occurs between him and Israeli Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who broke up his political partnership with Gantz.

Disagreement with Biden

Regarding whether Netanyahu’s dispute with the US administration would help him at home, Al-Haila explained that the Israeli Prime Minister took it upon himself to confront the administration of President Joe Biden, especially after US intelligence said that he - that is, Netanyahu - had become untrustworthy among Israeli public opinion, and called for The idea of ​​early elections in Israel.

He did not rule out that the dispute between Netanyahu and the Biden administration would have an impact on the upcoming negotiation process with the Palestinian resistance regarding the exchange deal.

Netanyahu - adds the Palestinian writer and political analyst - wants to maintain the sustainability of the state of war in Gaza, because it enables him to continue in the government, and he may show some kind of flexibility regarding the issue of humanitarian relief in Gaza to ease internal pressures and pressures from the Americans.

However, the problem that will continue to confront the Prime Minister of Israel - as Al-Hila says - relates to the Israeli prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance whom he failed to liberate by force, and therefore he is trying through negotiations to pressure the Palestinian resistance movement (Hamas) to accept some deal that stipulates its acceptance after a sustainable cessation of the war. He will market this matter within the Israeli scene... but will Hamas accept that?

In the estimation of the head of the Department of Political Science at Hebron University, the United States needs to put pressure on deep-rooted institutions in Israel, such as the Internal Security Services (Shin Bet) and the Intelligence Services (Mossad).

He stressed that the Americans' pressure on Netanyahu personally is useless, because he is trying to use this matter to his advantage, as he tells his supporters on the extreme right that the American ally left him halfway.

It is noteworthy that Netanyahu rejected - today, Sunday - an American call to hold early elections.

In an interview with CNN, he commented on the severe criticism directed at him by the leader of the Democratic majority in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, last Thursday. Schumer called - in a speech to Congress - for new elections in Israel and described the Israeli Prime Minister as an obstacle. In front of peace, and later US President Biden praised his speech and described it as good.

Source: Al Jazeera