Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a two-front war, one against Hamas and the other for his own political survival. After the shock Hamas infiltration of Israel on October 7, Netanyahu has been heavily criticized for his failure to prevent the attack. While conducting the war, Netanyahu has largely avoided the limelight and focused on his strategy for both fronts.
Netanyahu has always been seen as a security hawk, but the attack on October 7, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the abduction of 240 more, has damaged his reputation. Many Israelis blame Netanyahu’s fellow cabinet ministers for failing to prevent the attack and have subjected them to derision and abuse in public.
To salvage his reputation, Netanyahu has been closely monitoring the situation from inside the defense headquarters and visiting Gaza to meet with soldiers and commanders. However, his biographer, Anshel Pfeffer, believes that Netanyahu’s failure to prevent the attack will forever tarnish his reputation.
Netanyahu has vowed to control security in Gaza indefinitely, adding uncertainty to the fate of the enclave. The war has resulted in the death of 14,800 Palestinians and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.
In an effort to stabilize his government, Netanyahu formed a war cabinet and brought in Benny Gantz, a former army chief and opposition leader, as a leading challenger for the top job. Gantz offers a more stable government and reduces the influence of far-right and religious coalition partners.
Despite being united in the war effort, Netanyahu and Gantz are at odds politically. Gantz lacks Netanyahu’s experience and flair on the world stage, but he is seen as hawkish on Palestinians. Gantz has stopped short of committing to Palestinian statehood but has supported efforts to restart peace talks.
While some suggest replacing Netanyahu without going to elections, no one within his party has emerged to challenge him. With a war ongoing, holding elections is not currently being considered.
