Biden is not fully supporting Israel's war, far-right Israeli minister Ben Gvir tells WSJ
US President Joe Biden is not fully supporting Israel’s goals in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir told the Wall Street Journal. "Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,” he said."
“If Trump was in power, the US conduct would be completely different," Ben Gvir, head of the nationalistic Jewish Power party, added. Benny Gantz, a former defense minister and a member of Israel’s war cabinet, hit back at Ben Gvir, calling his comments “irresponsible” in a post on X and urging Netanyahu to “call (him) to order.” "It is permissible to have disputes, even with our largest and most important ally (the United States), but they must be conducted in the relevant forums and not in irresponsible statements in the media, which harm the strategic relations of the State of Israel, the security of the state, and the war effort at this time,” he said.
Head of the opposition Yair Lapid also slammed Ben Gvir’s comments on X, saying that the interview was “a direct attack on Israel's international standing, a direct assault on the war effort, harmful to Israel's security, and, above all, proves that he understands nothing about foreign policy.” Netanyahu is under pressure from all sides, as disputes in his coalition and war cabinet threaten to bring the government to a breaking point, and large rallies across the country are demanding he step down and send the country to an election.
Anti-government protests in Israel draw thousands as frustrations grow over hostage crisis
Thousands of people protested in parts of Israel on Saturday to demand a change in government and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. In the coastal town of Caesarea, protesters rallied in the rain before marching toward one of the private residences of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some were seen calling for the prime minister's removal, chanting, “Guilty, guilty, guilty!”
In Tel Aviv, protesters gathered at Habima Square to call for immediate elections in what was the third weekend in a row of demonstrations directly targeting Netanyahu and his government. Many waved Israeli flags and held up signs with images of the Israeli hostages, calling on the government to “bring them home.”
"The government of Israel declares in its actions that it is not competent and that the good of the state and its citizens are not at the top of its mind,” the protesters taking part in a demonstration titled “Calling for elections now!” said in a statement announcing the protest on Saturday. " “We will go out to demonstrate that our future depends only on us - we the people will determine our destiny!,” the said.
Pressure mounts: With more protests scheduled for next Saturday, the demonstrations are becoming a regular occurrence. Last Spring and Summer, mass weekly protests against Netanyahu and his government occurred over planned judicial reform, but were put on hold after the brutal October 7 attack. With the anger over Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis rising, such demonstrations could soon be returning.
Gantz and Netanyahu are about even in the polls, Ben G'Vir would gain a bit more power.
https://www.jns.org/poll-shows-netanyahu-coalition-pulling-ahead-of-gantz-opposition/
Right-wing bloc:
Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu – 27 (32)
Shas, Aryeh Deri – 10 (11)
Otzma Yehudit, Ben Gvir – 9 (6)
United Torah Judaism, Yitzhak Goldknopf – 7 (7)
Religious Zionism / Otzma Yehudit, Bezalel Smotrich – 4 (14)
Total: 57 mandates (70)
Left-wing bloc:
National Unity, Benny Gantz – 26 (12)
Yesh Atid, Yair Latid – 12 (24)
Yisrael Beitenu, Avigdor Lieberman – 11 (6)
Meretz, Zehava Galon – 4 (0)
Total: 53 mandates (42)
10 seats left for the smaller parties
United Arab List / Ra'am - ? (5)
Hadash Ta'al - ? (5)
Israeli Labour party - ? (4)
The left-wing bloc is still mostly pro genocide. Benny Gantz who stands to win the most, still wants the war to continue for months.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/gantz-war-against-hamas-could-last-an-entire-generation-hostages-must-remain-top-priority/
And now it looks like Netanyahu is ahead again.
