For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the evidence increasingly indicates that the conflict in Gaza is more about maintaining political power than about military tactics.
“Almost every decision made has been viewed through a political lens that serves the Prime Minister’s interests,” Aaron David Miller, a former US State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator, informed RTÉ News.
“For the past 15 months, he has approached various issues – from withholding humanitarian aid to ignoring the number of Palestinian civilians being killed, to lacking any post-war planning for Gaza.”
Yet, as Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza ramp up once again, the distinction between Mr. Netanyahu’s political self-preservation and national security objectives has become exceedingly blurred.
On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister revealed his plan to dismiss Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal intelligence agency.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar attends an event commemorating the anniversary of the 7 October attack.
The two have clashed over several matters, particularly a Shin Bet investigation into Mr. Netanyahu’s aides, who are suspected of accepting bribes from Qatar and engaging in actions that may threaten Israel’s national security.
Earlier this month, Shin Bet released a report regarding the 7 October attack. While acknowledging its own shortcomings, it notably criticized years of the government’s leniency toward Hamas under Mr. Netanyahu’s leadership.
Just over a day after announcing Mr. Bar’s ousting, the Israeli military executed a series of airstrikes on Gaza, marking Tuesday as one of the deadliest days in the region since the conflict erupted.
Over 400 Palestinians lost their lives, and hundreds more sustained injuries.
“The most generous interpretation of Israel’s actions is that it’s an attempt to exert military pressure on Hamas to bring them back to the negotiating table,” Mr. Miller stated.
However, many ordinary Israelis remain skeptical.
On Wednesday, thousands gathered in Jerusalem to call for a renewed ceasefire and hostage negotiations while protesting Mr. Netanyahu’s decision to sack Mr. Bar.
Protesters shine red lights to express their dissent against Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to remove the head of Shin Bet.
The protests have persisted for four consecutive days.
Surveys indicate that a significant majority of the Israeli populace supports ending the war entirely, predominantly to ensure the release of remaining hostages from Gaza.
Many Israelis have long criticized the government for prioritizing its mission to dismantle Hamas over securing the return of hostages—allegedly prolonging the conflict for political gain.
This week’s events have only strengthened those beliefs.
The demonstrators managed to block the main road leading into the city, reminiscent of the mass protests in 2023, when hundreds of thousands opposed Mr. Netanyahu’s plans to reform the judiciary, viewed by many as a threat to Israeli democracy.
The similarity between the protests is no accident—both are movements aimed at challenging the Prime Minister’s efforts to consolidate power at the expense of the country’s institutions.
“The only checks on Israeli governmental authority are the courts and public opinion,” Mr. Miller, now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, remarked.
Protesters gathered outside Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Mr. Netanyahu has numerous reasons to resent the courts. They have repeatedly obstructed his political schemes. The most recent example occurred yesterday when the Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against Mr. Bar’s dismissal.
In its decision, the court stated it would hear petitions from activists who argue that the dismissal is an attempt to undermine state institutions.
However, for Mr. Netanyahu, the matter is also personal.
Over the past four years, the Prime Minister has been embroiled in a lengthy corruption trial, necessitating his presence in court multiple times each month.
He has consistently used the conflict in Gaza as a rationale for postponing his testimony. This week, he cited the renewed military actions in Gaza as justification for delaying a scheduled court appearance.
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“He faces the potential of a conviction on one hand or a plea bargain that could likely end his political career,” Mr. Miller added.
“This drives him to cling to power, leading him to govern with the most right-wing administration in Israel’s history.”
Regarding that far-right government, critics also point out an additional advantageous outcome of the intensified assault in Gaza—the immediate political benefit it provided.
Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing in his corruption trial in December.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister who had exited the cabinet in January over the ceasefire agreement, declared his return to the coalition.
In confirming his party’s re-entry into the government, Mr. Ben-Gvir highlighted that the resumption of military operations in Gaza met his demands.
This bolsters Mr. Netanyahu’s parliamentary majority at a critical juncture—his government faces a deadline at the end of the month to pass a budget.
“The budget must be approved by the end of March,” Mr. Miller noted.
“If it doesn’t pass, the government automatically collapses, and Mr. Netanyahu loses power.”
Ultimately, this blend of political maneuvering and coalition-building comes at a devastating cost for those in Gaza.
For years, critics have contended that Mr. Netanyahu has merged his personal political survival with the national security interests of Israel.
As bombs rain down on Gaza once more and protests swell in Jerusalem, that argument becomes increasingly difficult to deny.
