According to a report by Al Jazeera, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly aiming to prolong the conflict in Gaza and sidestep a definitive commitment to ending the assault, according to Menachem Klein, professor emeritus at Bar-Ilan University.
The latest peace proposal on the table involves a 60-day ceasefire, but questions remain about Netanyahu’s willingness to agree to a more permanent cessation of hostilities.
Professor Klein, speaking to Al Jazeera, suggested that Netanyahu’s strategy is to “buy time and not commit himself to end the war.”
While the prime minister appears open to a two-month ceasefire, his true intentions regarding a lasting peace beyond this period are unclear.
“Nobody knows if he is ready, or very keen and honest, to negotiate a permanent ceasefire beyond this 60 days,” Klein stated.
Adding to the complexity, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is soon set to enter its summer recess.
Klein noted that Netanyahu is leveraging this timing, as it prevents his already precarious government coalition from being dissolved.
This recess also provides the Israeli leader with a crucial window to secure alternative political support.
This becomes particularly relevant if far-right members of his coalition, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, decide to withdraw their parties in protest of a potential Gaza agreement.
Klein explained that if these “ultra-racist, right-wing parties leave the coalition,” Netanyahu could then negotiate with centrist figures like former Defence Minister Benny Gantz to join the government and stabilize his coalition.
The current political maneuvering highlights the delicate balance Netanyahu is attempting to maintain, navigating both the international pressure for a ceasefire and the demands of his domestic political base.
The upcoming weeks will be critical in determining whether a temporary pause can evolve into a more durable peace for the region.
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