Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure as protests calling for his ouster and new elections have spread across Israel. Benny Gantz, a political rival of Netanyahu, has called for national elections to be held this coming September, just ahead of the year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas War. Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet and leader of the National Unity party, believes that these elections would allow Israel to continue the war while also renewing the trust of its citizens.
Protests have been ongoing across Israel, with thousands of people taking to the streets to call for new elections, increased efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, and for Netanyahu to step down from his position as Prime Minister. Protesters even managed to push past security and enter the Israeli parliament building, smearing yellow paint on the windows inside. The unrest has escalated, with protests outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home turning into what Israeli police described as a “riot.”
Yair Lapid, the leader of the centrist political opposition in Israel, has responded to Gantz’s calls for new elections by stating that Israel cannot wait another six months and that the current government must leave as soon as possible. However, Netanyahu’s Likud Party has accused Gantz of engaging in petty politics, arguing that new elections would lead to paralysis in the midst of a war. Netanyahu himself has not yet responded to the calls for a new election and has resisted similar calls in the past.
Prior to the Oct. 7 attack and the start of the Israel-Hamas War, anti-government protests were already taking place in Israel, largely in response to Netanyahu’s controversial plan to weaken the country’s Supreme Court. These protests dwindled after the attack but have now been reignited by the ongoing conflict. Local polls in Israel have shown Gantz polling ahead of Netanyahu, adding to the pressure on the Prime Minister. Israel continues to face global scrutiny over its handling of the humanitarian aspect of the war, particularly after an Israeli airstrike killed seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen.
As tensions continue to rise, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to speak with Netanyahu by phone on Thursday. Biden has expressed outrage over the killing of the aid workers and tensions between the two leaders have been growing in recent months. Israel’s intention to invade the Gazan city of Rafah has raised concerns of a potential humanitarian disaster. The situation remains fluid, with the possibility of new elections and further unrest in Israel as the conflict with Hamas continues.
