Israeli Likud MK: We have compromised too much with Hamas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
24 Nov 2023 15:37

A poll conducted by Maariv shows that Benny Gantz is growing more popular among Israelis while the far-right coalition headed by Netanyahu is growing less popular.

Former Israeli Minister of Security Benny Gantz in Athens, Greece, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022 (AP)

Israeli Likud party MK, Tali Goitein, said "Israel" has conceded "everything" to Hamas in the ceasefire agreement "without receiving even a sign of life from the prisoners in Gaza."

Goitein added that "agreeing to hours of ceasefire and fuel entry are actions that strengthen Hamas, and it would be interpreted as weakness on our part."

Benny Gantz more popular than Netanyahu among Israelis

In this context, a poll conducted by the Maariv newspaper showed that the leader of the Blue and White party and a minister in the War Cabinet, Benny Gantz, is growing more popular among Israelis while the far-right coalition headed by Netanyahu is growing less popular.

In response to a question in the poll about the parties the respondents would vote for in the next Knesset elections, the answers were as follows: "State Camp" 43 seats (a coalition which includes Benny Gantz's Blue and White party), "Likud" 18 seats, and "There is a Future" 13 seats.

Moreover, the poll showed that Gantz continues to significantly lead with a large gap between him and Netanyahu. 52% of the respondents said Gantz is more suitable than Netanyahu to head the Israeli government, while 27% supported Netanyahu.

Yesterday, Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea who writes for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that "public pressure" has prompted Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a prisoner exchange deal and temporary truce in the Gaza.

"A week ago," Barnea explained, Netanyahu, had "rejected" the deal that was "on the table", however, he changed his mind a couple of days ago, thus indicating that "what prompted him to agree to what he had rejected was public pressure."

The report also noted that public pressure was not the only reason for his "fluctuations", adding that "the position of the army, the Shin Bet, and the Mossad" also played a significant role, likely referencing the losses "Israel" faced amid the difficulty of the confrontations with the Resistance.

Haaretz reported that while much can go wrong, vis-à-vis occupation interests, "there was no other option, except to approve the proposed deal."

As for Yedioth Ahronoth, Barnea held a similar opinion, saying, "There was no other option but to agree to the proposed deal," given that allegedly in the occupation's government "no one in the leadership has the authority" to make a decision to further postpone the decision so that the IOF would advance another kilometer.