Olmert calls for government dissolution after 9 months of war on Gaza

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
7 Jul 2024 12:14
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls for the dissolution of the government and the need to reach a prisoner exchange agreement.

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in occupied al-Quds on October 8, 2007. (AP)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has called for the overthrow of the current occupation government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasized the urgent need to end the war on Gaza, noting that "Hamas managed to survive after nine months of fighting."

Olmert had previously criticized the decision to evacuate settlements in northern occupied Palestine, describing it as "hysterical" and attributing it to the state of panic within Netanyahu's government.

In an interview with Israeli Channel 12, Olmert described the current government as one that "does not know what to do and is unable to make decisions." He emphasized that the administration operates without strategic planning or preparation and lacks a clear understanding of the objectives necessary to end the war.

Ben-Gvir threatens to dissolve cabinet

Two days earlier, the Israeli Mako news website reported that the conflict between Netanyahu and Gallant is just one of many the premier has had with his ruling coalition members.

The website revealed that Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened Netanyahu he "would be left alone" if he was not included in crucial discussions about the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.

Ben-Gvir said during a cabinet session, "I know the real meeting will be held immediately after us."

"We are here as a decoration, and after we finish - you and Gallant will sit down with the heads of the security establishment and wrap things up," he added.

Israeli failure pushes revival of ceasefire talks

In a related context, the Wall Street Journal wrote that a shift in Israeli battlefield calculations has led analysts to conclude that the Israeli military and security establishment is pushing the Netanyahu-led Israeli government to finalize a deal with the Palestinian Resistance.

"Time is passing and all sides are realizing that time is not working in their favor, especially the Israeli side," said Ofer Shelah, a former Israeli lawmaker and military analyst with the "Israeli Institute for National Security Studies" (INSS), as quoted by WSJ.

On that note, talks of the positive atmosphere surrounding ceasefire talks and a prisoner exchange deal in the Gaza Strip, spurred by recent feedback submitted by Hamas to mediators, have taken center stage in discussions of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

However, Hamas' positive feedback has not been the only factor influencing the revival of ceasefire talks, as the movement has been positive and flexible throughout the mediated negotiations process.