Netanyahu uses resumption of the aggression on Gaza to win over right-wingers, eliminate opponents, and evade corruption charges

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been using the aggression on the Gaza Strip to resolve his internal crises. This was evident with the recent resumption of the war, as nighttime air strikes and the army’s announcement of the resumption of military operations have provided him with a lifeline.

During the ceasefire, Netanyahu faced political and judicial challenges that threatened his continued rule, but he saw the resumption of the war as a golden opportunity to reunite his political allies and eliminate his opponents without hindrance.

Al-Shorouk newspaper cited the Jerusalem Post, Yedioth Ahronoth, and the Times of Israel, and presented how Netanyahu has benefited from the resumption of the war on three main issues:

Appealing to the far right

Netanyahu is facing a crisis in passing the 2025 budget in the Knesset due to budget cuts that have sparked opposition protests, along with the refusal of far-right MK Itamar Ben-Gvir to vote in favour of the budget.

Since Ben-Gvir is a staunch supporter of the resumption of the aggression on Gaza, Netanyahu saw the war as an opportunity to appease him and bring him back into the coalition. Netanyahu’s actions were not limited to the war, as he also sought to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara who is pursuing legal investigations against Ben-Gvir. This is seen as another attempt to woo him.

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Eliminating rivals

Before the resumption of hostilities, Netanyahu issued an important decision: the dismissal of Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar. This triggered calls for widespread protests, however these were postponed after Israel launched its renewed bombing campaign in Gaza.

With the bombs came a renewed Israeli media shift in support of the government under the pretext of “national unity” during wartime.

Netanyahu benefitted from this by evading being held accountable for his actions quietly passing the dismissal decision.

Evading corruption and bribery charges

During the ceasefire, the investigations and trials against Netanyahu accelerated, and there were fears that he would be removed from office and put on trial once the war ended in accordance with the ceasefire plan.

However, the crisis escalated further when a Shin Bet report revealed that officials in Netanyahu’s office were involved in accepting bribes in exchange for facilitating the transfer of funds to Palestinian resistance factions, sparking a wave of anger within Israel.

Amid this scandal, accusations of Netanyahu’s responsibility for the 7 October events mounted, prompting him to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to cover up the scandal and reshuffle his political cards. Once again saving his position at the helm of government.

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