Netanyahu knows Israel is vulnerable
Hassan Hanizadeh
Regional affairs expert
Following heightened tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories and rocket barrages into Israel from southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, some hardliners in Israel expected Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet to retaliate with massive attacks against Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. To their dismay, this did not come true because Netanyahu is aware of his cabinet’s vulnerability and the shift of balance in the occupied territories.
The political and security situation in Israel is very unstable at the moment. The current cabinet is considered to be the most right-wing cabinet in Israel in recent years. With its five extremist members, the cabinet has sparked great anger among a lot of Israeli Jews, posing a major challenge for the prime minister.
Last week, Israeli extremists carried out several nighttime raids, led by the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, against Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds. These raids, which were senseless and unjustifiable, have created a common front against the extremist cabinet.
In the past few days, Israel has been targeted by attacks from southern Lebanon, Syria, and inside the occupied territories and Gaza. More than 300 rockets have been fired toward Israel, which is a clear sign of the inefficiency of the Iron Dome defense system. Therefore, Netanyahu’s cabinet must know that it is in a vulnerable position and cannot ensure the security of the occupied territories.
Another point to consider is the internal disputes within Israel, which have further weakened its political system. Netanyahu’s plans to tighten controls on Israel’s Supreme Court have also deepened the differences and elicited sharp reactions from the left and moderate parties. It is said that during the recent months of protests, more than 400,000 Jews have gathered and marched in Tel Aviv in protest against the cabinet’s policies.
Netanyahu, as an expert political figure, knows full well that if he enters into a large-scale war, he will have to withstand Palestinian attacks on several fronts, a capacity that his government does not have. Therefore, he has determined not to react sharply by launching large-scale attacks on southern Lebanon or Gaza, for example. This is a clear sign that Israel’s security system is seriously weak and vulnerable.