Netanyahu conducted by far the ugliest – and most reckless – campaign in Israeli history (almost including a declaration of war on Gaza to delay the election), but it wasn’t enough. Coalition-building in the current environment will be tough.
Two right-wing ministers criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not “acting like a real right-wing government” by being too soft on Gaza, Hamas, and Khan al-Ahmar; but they vow to stay in power rather than resigning as Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman did last week.
The past week has seen the promise of peace shattered, first by an Israeli incursion into Gaza (7 Palestinian, 1 Israeli dead), then Gaza’s rocket retaliation (1 Israeli Palestinian dead), then Israel’s retaliation (7 Palestinians dead). Israel’s defense minister has resigned, and a new, fragile ceasefire is in effect.
As Israel considers adopting the death sentence for Palestinians, it is worth recalling that under occupation, Palestinians already face harsh injustice and that such a law would be illegal according to international law. The examples of Elor Azaria’s 9-month prison term for killing an unarmed, injured Palestinian at point-blank range, and Ahed Tamimi’s 8-month sentence for slapping an IDF soldier, indicate that the Israeli “justice” system is already severely lopsided.
Israel caves: Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman offered a deal to Hamas, including reopening Kerem crossing and expanding fishing zones, “if situation remains calm.”
Netanyahu’s show Monday disregarded the IDF’s statement that the Iran deal will keep nukes out of Iran for 10+ yrs. It also lacked proof. But it gave Trump (& Bibi’s own drooping voter base) memorable images and catch-phrases. The info he presented with such urgency is old & familiar to anyone who has read IAEA reports.
In the past 10 years, Israel has launched three massive genocidal wars of aggression on occupied Gaza… this came after years of a deadly medieval Israeli siege of Gaza… this followed Israel’s ethnic cleansing of multitudes Palestinians… It is time for the world to stand up to the only remaining apartheid regime in the world