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- Netanyahu Caught in a Crossfire
©(Menahem KAHANA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the war in Gaza is not "a new round" with Hamas, and that Israel will not end the war without achieving its objectives. These, he said, were to eliminate Hamas, return the hostages and ensure that Gaza no longer posed a threat to Israel.
With regard to reports of a possible hostage agreement, Mr. Netanyahu said that the Israeli army would not leave the Gaza Strip and that he had no intention of releasing thousands of terrorists.
The Prime Minister is currently facing increasing international and domestic pressure. In particular, he is facing exasperation from his American ally, who is urging him to move towards a political solution.
It was against this backdrop that CIA Director William Burns and senior officials from Egypt, Qatar and Israel met at the beginning of the week to discuss a truce in the war in Gaza.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/222041"]
The latter have since reached an agreement, in principle, the outlines of which have been passed on to the political leadership of Hamas, which has said it is "studying" it.
On the domestic front, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, one of the far-right figures to have joined the current Israeli government, is pushing in the opposite direction. On Tuesday, he declared on X that concluding an unacceptable agreement with Hamas would lead to the dissolution of the Israeli government.
The fragile coalition assembled by Mr. Netanyahu at the end of December 2022 relies heavily on his alliance with these extremist parties. Should he finally give in to American demands, this could mean his political death warrant, through the implosion of his cabinet.
With regard to reports of a possible hostage agreement, Mr. Netanyahu said that the Israeli army would not leave the Gaza Strip and that he had no intention of releasing thousands of terrorists.
The Prime Minister is currently facing increasing international and domestic pressure. In particular, he is facing exasperation from his American ally, who is urging him to move towards a political solution.
It was against this backdrop that CIA Director William Burns and senior officials from Egypt, Qatar and Israel met at the beginning of the week to discuss a truce in the war in Gaza.
[readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/world/222041"]
The latter have since reached an agreement, in principle, the outlines of which have been passed on to the political leadership of Hamas, which has said it is "studying" it.
On the domestic front, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, one of the far-right figures to have joined the current Israeli government, is pushing in the opposite direction. On Tuesday, he declared on X that concluding an unacceptable agreement with Hamas would lead to the dissolution of the Israeli government.
The fragile coalition assembled by Mr. Netanyahu at the end of December 2022 relies heavily on his alliance with these extremist parties. Should he finally give in to American demands, this could mean his political death warrant, through the implosion of his cabinet.
This Is Beirut
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