In Israel, Benny Gantz, Benyamin Netanyahu’s main rival, is calling for early legislative elections for September 2024, while the poll is initially scheduled for the fall of 2026. It must be said that the Israeli Prime Minister has become very unpopular, six months after the attacks of October 7 and the start of the war in Gaza.
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If Benny Gantz proposes these early elections, is that he is leading in the polls, far ahead Benyamin Netanyahu. The former army chief of staff, who is now part of the war cabinet, poses as the Prime Minister’s main rival.
It also relies on the anger of the streets. In recent days, huge demonstrations have taken place, notably in Jerusalem, in front of Parliament, bringing together tens of thousands of discontented people. According to a recent opinion survey by the Israel Democracy Institute, 71% of Israelis want early elections. Some are even calling for the resignation of Benyamin Netanyahu, immediately.
The unity displayed behind the Prime Minister just after the attacks of October 7 fizzled out. Anger against Benyamin Netanyahu rose gradually. The Israelis blamed him for the security breach that led to the Hamas attacks. They criticized his poor management of the crisis, then his procrastination around negotiations to free the hostages.
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The announced war objectives were not achieved
The more time passes, the more Israelis become tired of seeing that the war in Gaza has not achieved its announced objectives. Hamas has not been eliminated and the hostages, around a hundred in total, are still prisoners. Among those demanding Netanyahu’s departure are families of hostages, but also longer-standing opponents, notably those who protested massively last year against the justice reform, deemed undemocratic. They accuse Benyamin Netanyahu of leading the country to its downfall.
Many suspect the Prime Minister of prolonging the war in Gaza to stay in power. If the conflict ends, Benyamin Netanyahu will face criticism and legal challenges. He is accused, among other things, of corruption.
For the moment, Benyamin Netanyahu is sticking to his positions. He declared, Sunday March 31, that “ elections in the middle of war would paralyze Israel for at least six months and would also paralyze negotiations for the release of hostages “. And there is also no indication that his allies within the coalition are abandoning him.
But there are many pressures. Apart from Benny Gantz, the leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, also called for the departure of Benyamin Netanyahu. Finally there are American pressure. Last month, the influential Democratic senator Chuck Schumer had thrown a stone into the pond by calling for early elections in Israel, personally criticizing Benyamin Netanyahu. The American President Joe Biden had then greeted “ a good speech “.
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