Prime Minister Netanyahu faces political crisis over Gaza ceasefire agreement

Ben Gvir had already proven to be an unreliable and troublesome coalition partner. The prime minister, who had called for higher pay for police, refused to support his government in passing a key bill last month, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is recovering from prostate surgery, to stay away from his hospital bed to ensure the bill's passage. forced a vote in Congress. .

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held frequent and lengthy talks with Smotrich in recent days in an effort to persuade him to remain in the coalition government. On Thursday, after a three-hour meeting between Smotrich and party lawmakers, the party issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Netanyahu, demanding a commitment to immediately resume the war with Hamas as a condition of an initial six-week ceasefire. did. Mr. Smotrich will remain in government.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed convening a cabinet meeting to ratify the deal, citing a last-minute standoff with Hamas over details. Early Friday, he said negotiators had resolved their differences.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting corruption charges in a lengthy court case, and there is a risk that military and policy failures in preparation for the 2023 Hamas attack will be exposed to public judgment after the war ends. Given this situation, some analysts believe that if Hamas does not act first, he will choose to abandon the Phase 2 deal in order to preserve his coalition government.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to stay in power,” said Geir Tarshiel, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “For him, it makes no sense to go to an election that he might not win. He wants to lead the government for two more years.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu was still able to reach an agreement with Smotrich. Even if the finance minister decides to leave the coalition along with Ben Gvir, Netanyahu could remain head of a minority government, at least for a while. Opposition leaders say they will provide Netanyahu with a political safety net for peace.

In any case, the government is likely to survive until the end of the first phase of the deal, said Yohanan Plesner, director of the Israel Democracy Institute, a nonpartisan research group in Jerusalem.

But Mr. Netanyahu may have to decide between his majority in Congress and his relationship with the next administration in Washington, and Mr. Trump and Saudi Arabia may be offering Mr. Netanyahu an opportunity to burnish his legacy. be.

“I think his mind is already on his next big move,'' Plesner said of Prime Minister Netanyahu, adding, “I think he has to choose between the Trump administration and his close relationship with Smotrich and Ben Gvir.'' If not, he will choose,” he added. For Trump. ”

American and Israeli officials said the deal reached this week is very similar to the proposal President Biden outlined last May.