Is Time Running Out for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting criticism for his government’s war on Gaza, with accusations of genocide and war crimes coming from both foreign leaders and former Israeli prime ministers.

Internationally, Israel is looking increasingly isolated, as images of the starvation it is inflicting on Gaza flood global media. Domestically, Netanyahu faces deep criticism of a war many believe he is only prolonging to stay in power.

Netanyahu’s unpopularity with the Israeli public is growing, with a poll for Channel 12 television showing a majority of Israelis think Netanyahu cares more about retaining his grip on power than returning the captives. “A sane country does not wage war against civilians, does not kill babies as a pastime, and does not engage in mass population displacement,” former general and leader of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, told local radio station Reshet Bet.

Two of Israel’s former prime ministers have publicly criticised Netanyahu. Ehud Barak said in Time magazine that Netanyahu must choose between a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump to free the captives and end the war, or continuing with his “war of deception”. Ehud Olmert wrote in Haaretz that Israel was guilty of having committed war crimes in Gaza and that “this is now a private political war”. Olmert added that Trump should tell Netanyahu that “enough is enough”.

Netanyahu’s coalition is also under threat due to disagreements over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox youth. The leaders of the two ultra-Orthodox parties in the ruling coalition, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), are threatening to collapse the government unless it passes legislation that would override the Supreme Court decision to end exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students.

Internationally, Arab and European leaders have become increasingly vocal in their criticisms of Netanyahu and the war. However, for now, he still has the vital support of the US and President Donald Trump. “I don’t know if Netanyahu can come back from this,” one of his former aides, Mitchell Barak, told Al Jazeera. “There’s a lot of talk about Netanyahu being at the end of his line … They’ve been saying that for years, and he’s still here … but I can’t see any more magic tricks that are available to him.”

Netanyahu’s legal problems also continue, with his corruption trial ongoing. If he is found guilty, he faces jail, possibly up to 10 years. Critics say he is extending the war to avoid being held accountable for his government’s failings during the October 7 attack.