Two far-right Israeli ministers have threatened to resign and bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government if he accepts a peace proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden.
Biden unveiled on Friday (31) what he said was a three-phase Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, which would combine the release of hostages with a “total and complete ceasefire.”
During a speech at the White House, the American president said that Hamas was degraded to the point that it could no longer carry out the type of attack seen on October 7, which launched the current war in Gaza.
“It is time for this war to end,” he said, a clear indication that – as far as he is concerned – Israel’s war aims have been achieved.
On the other hand, the two most prominent far-right members of Israel's government, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have made it explicitly clear that they reject an immediate ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also signaled he is not ready, casting doubt on Biden's proposal.
In a statement on social media, Smotrich said he “made it clear” to Netanyahu that he would not “be part of a government that would agree to the proposal and end the war without destroying Hamas and returning all the hostages.”
Smotrich demanded that the fighting continue until the “destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages”, as well as the “creation of a completely different security reality in Gaza and Lebanon”.
The Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir, described the agreement as “reckless” and “a victory for terrorism”, as well as a danger to Israel's security.
“If the prime minister implements the reckless agreement under the published conditions, which mean the end of the war and the abandonment of the elimination of Hamas, Otzma Yehudit will dissolve the government,” he said, referring to the far-right party he leads and which helps sustain Netanyahu's majority in parliament.
Biden mentioned tensions in the Israeli government in his speech, making a direct appeal to the citizens of Israel to express their support.
“I know there are people in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some, some are even in the government coalition,” he said.
Netanyahu under pressure
The proposal first envisages the release of hostages and Israel's withdrawal from “all populated areas of Gaza” and would eventually culminate in a reconstruction plan for Gaza, which has been left in ruins due to the fighting.
The plan was widely welcomed, with the UN and other international powers encouraging Israel and Hamas to accept it. Hamas said it viewed the plan “positively” and was ready “to deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire.”
In contrast, less than an hour after Biden detailed the proposal, Netanyahu insisted that Israel will not end the war in Gaza until it has achieved all its objectives, including the destruction of Hamas.
The extent to which Netanyahu agrees with the plan is unclear, as the statement also states that the “exact outline” of Israel’s proposal allows the country to “uphold these principles.”
Netanyahu faces pressure not just from within his own coalition. On Saturday, protesters took to the streets again, demanding his resignation and early elections.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid offered to support Netanyahu in accepting the proposal and condemned Smotrich and Ben Gvir's comments.
“Ben Gvir and Smotrich’s threats are the neglect of national security, hostages, and northern and southern residents,” he said.
“This is the worst and most reckless government in the country’s history. For them, here there will be a war forever, zero responsibility, zero management, a total failure”, he added.
Netanyahu's government faces growing international calls to end the war in Gaza as the conflict approaches its ninth month.
The war was triggered by Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7, which left around 1,200 people dead and more than 200 people hostage. The Israeli campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 36,000 people.
Source: CNN Brasil
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