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Ex-Israeli PM warns Israel has ‘no defence’ for crimes in West Bank
Ehud Olmert, who led the Israeli government in the mid-2000s, has issued a warning for Israeli leaders over the escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
He suggested that the country will not be able to defend itself if charged with crimes over its conduct there.
“I am warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: The day is drawing near when arrest warrants will be issued against you for the crimes being carried out every day in Judea and Samaria by Israel, with the support of its government, while you intentionally turn a blind eye to it,” he wrote in an op-ed for Haaretz, using a biblical name for the West Bank.
“The events in Gaza can be defended, because it’s possible to claim they are not a result of policy, order or intention by Israel, not even by you. In the worst case, as we all know, you are not really managing, leading or directing. After all, you’re not responsible for anything.”
How deluded are Israeli politicians, reading the last paragraph. The effect of decades of impunity.
Poll finds majority of Israelis want Netanyahu to resign
A poll by Israeli news outlet Channel 12 has found that 72 percent of the Israeli public want Netanyahu to resign over the October 7 Hamas attack.
According to the poll, 44 percent of respondents believe Netanyahu needs to quit now, while 28 percent say he should resign after the war in Gaza ends.
The poll also found that 64 percent of respondents favour a ceasefire deal that would free Israeli captives in Gaza.
Families of captives say Netanyahu’s behaviour in negotiations ‘reckless’
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has denounced Netanyahu’s hardening position during negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza that could free the captives held in the besieged territory.
“Netanyahu’s behaviour is reckless. This is an opportunity that we may never get again,” the organisation was quoted as saying by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “It’s now or never. By the time everyone comes to their senses and works together, there might not be anyone to bring back. The families address the prime minister – we stand behind the Netanyahu deal, now it is your turn to stand behind the deal you put on the table.”
The comments come after media reports that Netanyahu was hardening his position amid disagreements with his own team, including intelligence chief, David Barnea.
Netanyahu ‘running the clock’ on Biden
As Biden faces growing calls for him to step aside as a presidential candidate amid concerns over his age, he is likely to have little “political capital” left to take a hard line with Israel, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara says.
“Biden has been weakened over the past several weeks, and already over the past several months, he refused to put enough pressure on Netanyahu to change course,” Bishara said.
“There’s no doubt that Netanyahu is running the clock on Biden, that he is waiting for the next administration,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bishara added that many US voters in places like Michigan, where Biden is currently holding a campaign event, “are really stuck in this choice between tyrant Trump and genocide Joe”.
