Tens of thousands of Israelis have protested against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, demanding his resignation. They are dissatisfied with Netanyahu’s attempts to maintain his power, particularly after he resumed the bombing of Gaza last Tuesday, leaving Israeli captives in the Palestinian enclave.
The ceased bombing could have led to the release of all captives, but Netanyahu was unwilling to proceed with resolving the conflict. Renewed Israeli air strikes on Gaza have already killed over 500 Palestinians, including 200 children, over five days. However, protestors have not prioritized concern for the Palestinians killed in the enclave.
Israeli political analyst Ori Goldberg explained, “People don’t believe in continuing the war, not due to its impact on Palestinians – who are ‘invisible’ – but on the protestors themselves and the hostages.”
Many analysts argue that Netanyahu is motivated solely by political gain. He achieved a political victory when far-right former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejoined the government the same day Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza. Netanyahu requires Ben-Gvir’s support in parliament to pass his government’s budget, with snap elections being triggered if it fails.
Budget interests have been in competition, including a pay rise for police and exempting Jewish seminary students from military service. The budget includes $169.19 billion for various expenditures, including resources for defeating the enemy, supporting reservists, business owners, and rebuilding efforts in the north and south. In 2024, Israel’s spending on war increased, causing the budget deficit to reach 6.9 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Netanyahu may have secured enough support to pass the budget, but this has intensified opposition’s outrage towards him. Demonstrators criticized Ben-Gvir’s return and felt that breaking the ceasefire was a part of Netanyahu’s effort to secure political support in parliament.
Netanyahu defends himself by claiming that he faces opposition from a “deep state,” using rhetoric similar to former United States President Donald Trump. He is currently trying to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet domestic security service, Ronen Bar, who is investigating the prime minister’s office.
Netanyahu’s coalition has backed his actions, but the Supreme Court has frozen attempts to remove Shin Bet’s head. The Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara stated that the no-confidence vote against her was not valid for her removal. Netanyahu also claimed that the dismissal of Bar was not due to the investigation but because of the Shin Bet’s failures during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/23/analysis-israelis-protest-as-netanyahu-focuses-on-securing-political-power?traffic_source=rss
