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Jun 25Liked by Adam Rousselle

I appreciate Adam's take on Israeli politics, but the prolonging of the war is not a Netanyahu interest per se, as if when the war ends he will magically go to jail. Some even say it harms him politically to continue the war slowly and methodically instead of fast and decisively (Naftali Bennett is gaining political momentum precisely because he makes that point against Bibi).

All his political rivals are saying that Hamas cannot stay in power in the Gaza strip and that it must be eliminated as a functioning body and that the IDF must maintain control over the Philadelphia corridor even if the fighting ends. This sentiment is supported by the major and minor parties in the Israeli Knesset (except for the far left and Arab parties). Bibi's trial was resumed in December despite the ongoing war, but he was approved by the judge to be exempt from physically appearing in court due to the war. his trial will continues regardless, and the verdict will be given even if it's during the war.

In Israel, the PM is not the commander in chief. The military makes the plans, and the political echelon simply gives the green light. An Israeli PM is barely involved on the operational or tactical level (that's reserved for the minister of defense). It's true that Bibi delayed offensive plans to go to Rafah earlier in the war, and he is holding plans to go to Deir al Balah, Nuseirat and Bureij (central camps) right now, but that is mostly due to international pressure on Israel, and specifically from the Biden administration demanding to hold back major offensives that will result in massive civilian casualties (as said openly by president Biden himself). Benni Gantz openly criticized Bibi for not going to Rafah earlier when he left the coalition, but he also stated that operations will probably last for another year in Gaza, and that pauses in the fighting must be done only for releasing hostages, and not if it means ending the war with Hamas left in power. So they are practically saying the same thing

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I agree, there's room for nuance there, but it seems this war cabinet and the public support associated with the war have been working in the PM's favor. You're right about the court case though, and perhaps the judiciary will move against him regardless, especially given his rapidly eroding popularity.

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