Record Palestinian turnout in Israel’s elections may soon end Netanyahu’s rule, but the “opposition” will not end the occupation or fundamentally change Israel’s policies. So, what will a new Israeli government actually mean for Palestinians?
Netanyahu’s strong showing in the Israeli elections is a blow to liberal Zionists and their effort to continue to deny Israeli apartheid.
Netanyahu’s party and the Israeli opposition are at an electoral stalemate that only an alliance with the Palestinian citizens of Israel can break, but neither camp is willing to extend their democratic ideals to the Arab lists who won 19 seats in the latest election.
An Israeli conference on antisemitism has come under fire due to the participation of far-right European politicians, many with a history of anti-Jewish racism. While this invite list is offensive, it should not be a surprise given Zionist history.
In January, far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir left the Israeli government in protest of the Gaza ceasefire. Now that the genocide has fully restarted, Ben-Gvir is back and his shared interests with Benjamin Netanyahu have never been clearer.
A ceasefire deal to finally stop the genocide in Gaza and bring about an exchange of captives appears to be at hand, but many questions remain. Among them is the role the incoming Trump administration played and what this says for his policy in the region.
In recent days, Gaza ceasefire talks have seemed to gather unprecedented momentum, but until Israel’s far-right government concedes it is ready to abandon the genocide any predictions of the horror finally ending should be taken with skepticism.
There are dangerous signs Israel intends to escalate attacks on Lebanon and raise the stakes with Hezbollah. If it does, the risk of a regional war grows enormously. The only way out is to end the fighting in Gaza.
Since October 7, Israeli politicians and far-right leaders have pressed for Israel to replace Palestinian laborers with foreign workers. Such a move would devastate the Palestinian economy and could bring the Palestinian Authority down with it.
Democrats are criticizing the Israeli government for not reflecting the desires of Israelis in its war on Gaza. Netanyahu may be hated, but it’s clear he’s not acting against the will of his people. That description is far more fitting for Joe Biden.