Netanyahu thinks he’s Churchill, Israelis see Chamberlain

Aleading member of Israel’s wartime cabinet has threatened to resign should Benjamin Netanyahu fail to present a strategy for ending the war in Gaza. The liberal politician Benny Gantz, who would win an election were one held now, has given a public ultimatum. He will collapse Netanyahu’s fragile coalition if no peace plan is delivered by Saturday.

Netanyahu might believe he’s a Churchill; most Israelis consider him a Chamberlain

Meanwhile, the largest protest since 7 October took place last weekend when 120,000 Israelis marched in Tel Aviv. Families of the 120 hostages held in Gaza (at least a third of whom are presumed dead) have joined the growing demonstrations against the government. Relatives, who have been at the centre of the protests, have found themselves physically attacked by the police, as well as by a small band of Netanyahu loyalists. One of Gantz’s aides tells me: ‘The only thing preventing a massive outbreak of protests – protests that the reservists back from Gaza will join too – is Gantz still in the war cabinet. The moment he leaves, Israelis will feel they have no one looking out for the national interest in government and rise up.’

Joe Biden put more pressure on Netanyahu last week by revealing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire. But should an agreement be reached with Hamas, Netanyahu would have to bring the deal to his cabinet. Many of his ministers are opposed to the war ending. Pushing the agreement through might well cost Netanyahu his parliamentary majority. Two far-right ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have said they’ll leave the government if Netanyahu accepts.

The PM is between a rock and a hard place. If he folds to the hardliners, then Gantz will leave the coalition. If Netanyahu does what Gantz wants, the hardliners will collapse the coalition.