Gaza War 2 Jun

US President Biden is trying a new approach in order to improve his foreign policy image. He announced a new(?) plan for a hostage/cease-fire deal. He says it’s based on a plan that Israeli PM Netanyahu had previously pushed through his cabinet. Netanyahu, however, is not giving this an immediate OK.

Hamas said it’s ready to discuss the plan further (tentative approval?) The negotiations are underway, again.

But the Israeli home political front is not united. The Supreme Court will decide on whether to withhold funds from some religious institutions whose students are currently considered draft dodgers. The Knesset is dragging its feet on passing new legislation in this area. Granting any further exemptions to Yeshiva students (or giving them more money) can only pass if all  be coalition members vote for it. That does not look likely. In addition, the far right coalition partners, finance minister Smotrich and internal security Ben-Gvir, are threatening to bring down the government if Netanyahu goes along with the Biden plan (that he, himself, is said to have authored). Popular opinion is strongly in favor of having a new election. So Netanyahu may be facing a Hobson’s choice; end the war, or try to cobble together another coalition compromise (and the success of such an effort is far from certain).


2 thoughts on “Gaza War 2 Jun

  1. I’d be interested in your take on where the people of Israel are with this. I know that Israel, like the US isn’t a monolith that speaks with one but many voices. Where do you think the majority of opinion lies?

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    1. If elections were held tomorrow, Netanyahu would lose. The religious parties have no place to go since allying themselves with him. The extreme right would also stay with him. That still won’t give him a majority coalition. But the rest o the country is not unified around any particular person. When elections actually happen there may be some new faces.

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