Benjamin Netanyahu has never made it a secret that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state and insists on total Israeli control over “the territory west of the Jordan River.”
Facing charges of genocide, Israel claims “self-defense” in front of the ICJ, as world powers strike Yemeni rebel group in the name of protecting global trade. Meanwhile, Israel continues to bomb and shoot Palestinians.
Amit Halevi, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, has proposed dividing the Al-Aqsa Mosque between Jews and Muslims. Such plans can no longer be disregarded as extremist fantasies but increasingly represent mainstream Israeli politics.
Following Israel’s fourth election in two years, Benjamin Netanyahu’s base is more vulnerable and more extreme than ever before. But this time a coalition with Arab parties could tip the scales.
Phil Weiss speaks to Yossi Gurvitz to unpack the March 23rd Israeli election results. Yumna Patel discusses the upcoming Palestinian elections with Dr. Yara Hawari and Dr. Haidar Eid.
Israel could seek to end BDS leader Omar Barghouti’s residency by declaring him disloyal, but doing so presents a giant PR problem. Better– he’s a security threat. And lawmaker Keti Shitrit says he threatens Israel’s “universal security.”
Polls showed that Netanyahu would win a fourth election in Israel, and the deal he cut for a unity government with Benny Gantz reflects his strength. Fewer than a third of Israeli voters believe Netanyahu will respect his rotation agreement with Gantz.
Israel’s third election inside a year shows the rightwing continuing to gain ground. This is what Jewish nationalists want. A society governed by an authoritarian leader, no matter how corrupt. Just so long as there are no Arabs anywhere near power. The only hope politically is the burgeoning Joint List of Palestinian parties, which reject apartheid and discrimination.
Benny Gantz plays into Netanyahu’s racist attack, and says he will refuse to have the Palestinian Joint List as participants in a government, preferring the rightwinger Liberman, as if the math makes sense. It doesn’t. Gantz needs the Joint List. He spurns Palestinians because of primal Israeli Jewish fears that by welcoming the other into the Zionist community, Jews will want to leave the fold.
Some commentators are predicting Netanyahu is about to be betrayed by a “broad” coalition of Israeli centrists. But the race-baiting against Palestinian legislators continue unabated. And one likely replacement says Netanyahu has been soft on Gaza and Israel must speed up “targeted killings” of Palestinian leaders.