Gaza War: The Final Straw for Netanyahu’s Political Career

In a stunning turn of events, the ongoing conflict in Gaza appears to be the proverbial final straw in the long and storied political career of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The man who has dominated Israeli politics for over a decade now finds himself facing mounting criticism and growing calls for his resignation.

Just a few weeks ago, Netanyahu appeared to have a winning card up his sleeve. Despite being shunned by the Joe Biden administration and facing indefinite delays in planned visits to Arab capitals, he hoped to secure a groundbreaking deal with Saudi Arabia. This deal had the potential not only to quell domestic protests against his leadership but also to win him a Nobel Prize and cement his reputation as one of Israel’s most talented statesmen. Riyadh seemed tantalizingly within reach.

However, the situation took a dramatic and tragic turn on October 7 when Hamas executed a deadly attack in the south of Israel. The Israeli army failed to prevent and protect, intelligence agencies failed to predict, and the Netanyahu government was slow to react to the disaster. The sense of déjà vu was chilling, reminiscent of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. This time, however, it was Israeli civilians who paid the horrific price for negligence and arrogance.

As the news of the attack spread, Prime Minister Netanyahu confidently declared, “We are at war; the enemy will pay an enormous price. I ordered the army to clear the towns from terrorists, and that is being done right now. We are at war, and we will win.” But while he spoke, hundreds of Israelis, both civilians and soldiers, had already lost their lives, and many more were fighting for survival or hiding from terrorists who had effectively conquered the entire Gaza Envelope, which is within approximately four miles of the Gaza Strip border.

The shock and disbelief that swept across the nation were palpable. Israelis had been repeatedly assured by politicians and military leaders that Hamas had been severely weakened. Those assurances proved to be nothing more than empty rhetoric, as the tragic reality unfolded.

Public anger soon boiled over, with demands for accountability and action. A poll conducted by the Dialog Center revealed that an overwhelming majority of respondents, including nearly 80% of coalition supporters, believed that the Hamas attack was a leadership failure. Over 75% placed most of the responsibility on the government’s shoulders.

Surprisingly, amidst the chorus of public condemnation, Prime Minister Netanyahu remained conspicuously silent. His ministers and Knesset members, including figures such as Minister of Education Yoav Kisch and Member of Knesset Eliahu Revivo, had already made public statements. Netanyahu’s sole reference to the situation came during the opening of the Knesset’s winter session on October 16 when he said, “There are many questions about this catastrophe that happened ten days ago… We will investigate to the end, and we have already begun to utilize our lessons, but for now, we are focused on one goal—uniting the forces and storming on to victory.”

This time, however, the path to victory has changed. Netanyahu finds himself in an emergency government alongside Benny Gantz, the former chief of staff and minister of defense. The move was supported by the majority of Israelis. A narrow war cabinet was formed, which includes not only Netanyahu and Gantz but also Defense Minister Gallant, former chief of staff and Member of Knesset Gadi Eizenkot, and former Israeli ambassador to the United States and Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer. Extreme coalition members like Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, who once held considerable influence, have been sidelined. One Likud minister, Information Minister Galit Distel-Atbaryan, even resigned, acknowledging her office’s ineffectiveness.

Despite the mounting public anger and calls for his resignation from former ministers and bereaved parents, Netanyahu remains preoccupied with internal politics. His only meeting with the representatives of the forum of kidnapped Israeli families on October 15 revealed a stark disconnection with the reality on the ground. The families recounted their experiences, highlighting the fact that the prime minister and those around him appeared to be living in a different political era.

Israel continues to mourn its dead, and with the ground operation in Gaza already announced, there is a growing fear of more casualties and heartache. The failure of the state and the army to protect southern Israeli civilians has shattered the “conception” Netanyahu vigorously promoted. The strategy of dividing and ruling the Palestinians, attempting to influence Hamas with financial incentives, weakening the Palestinian Authority, and keeping the Palestinian state at bay has come crashing down.

The warm embrace President Biden offered to the families of kidnapped American Israelis and the heroes who survived the massacre and fought the terrorists underscored the growing disconnect between Netanyahu and his people. This explosive combination of factors could well determine the political fate of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

While it’s difficult to predict the precise outcome of this conflict, it’s clear that the Israeli political landscape will change significantly. Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing intense scrutiny, and the blame for this tragic failure is largely placed at his feet. For years, he dominated Israeli politics, sidelining ministers and taking credit for achievements. After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, it took three years for a seismic shift that saw the Likud party wrest power from the Labor Party. In the aftermath of the October 7 tragedy, change could come much faster.

Ironically, Netanyahu, who once believed in the possibility of promoting peace with Arab countries without engaging with the Palestinians, now faces the potential end of his career due to another war with the Palestinians. Tragically, his policies have embroiled Israel in a brutal conflict that could result in even more grieving families and a very uncertain political future.

Team Profile

Saman SheikhNews Writer

Saman Sheikh, with a passion for unravelling the complex web of global events and their implications, brings a unique blend of expertise and dedication to the world of journalism. She is dedicated to keeping readers informed about the ever-evolving landscape of global politics, economics, and diplomacy, making sense of the world's most pressing issues. Saman is known for her expertise in deciphering global rivalries and shedding light on diplomatic intricacies.

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