Loebs: Gaza war exacerbates social and political divisions in Israel Current Affairs News

French magazine “L'Obs” stated that Israelis are united in the war against the Islamic resistance (agitation) and show solidarity with detainees Gaza Strip The good times were short-lived. After 12 weeks of war, cracks appeared in the national consensus on the war, and questions arose about the Prime Minister's management. Benjamin Netanyahu Regarding the conflict, said Jack Bendlak, a social science researcher in Jerusalem.

If the Hamas attack on October 7 last year united Israelis who were deeply divided at the time over judicial reforms proposed by Netanyahu's government, the continuation of the conflict – according to the author in the magazine article — and its long duration, have once again raised doubts about Israeli public opinion’s management of the war and the detainee crisis.

The author believes that this has significantly reopened divisions, primarily between rich and poor, right and left, and between those calling for a greater Israel and supporters of a two-state solution.

rich and poor

The author believes that the war does not affect all Israelis equally. It has hit southern Israel hard. According to the “Israel Poverty Report 2022”, the poverty rate in the southern region rose to 25%, while it was 15% in the central region, especially in the central region. Negev Bedouin and many Sephardi Jews in Beersheba, Sderot and Netivot.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Israeli NGO “Latet”, which works to combat poverty and food insecurity in Israel, the population’s income It has fallen by 19.7% since the start of the war.

45.5% of Israelis fear falling into severe economic insecurity, especially since partial and very slow compensation from the state will only exacerbate the obvious social gaps and inequalities within Israeli society.

right and left

On the other hand, the war has reignited divisions between the Israeli right and left, so when Israelis see the war as an existential threat to their country, the proportion of the right increases.

Soon, demonstrations in support of Gaza detainees turned into a confrontation between Netanyahu supporters and opponents, with one side demanding a ceasefire and the release of detainees and the other supporting war at all costs until Eliminate detainees. Hamas's.

Netanyahu has been criticized by many Israelis for failing to take responsibility for the outbreak of a conflict he knew was imminently dangerous and for refusing to discuss prospects for an end to the war and the future of the Gaza Strip, which has cost him even within his own political camp Credibility. So it is no longer the Israeli left that is calling for his resignation.

Greater Israel or two states?

If the war has sparked debate in Israel about resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the government does not want to talk about the future of the Palestinian territories, especially since Netanyahu has become a prisoner of Israel after forming the current coalition government.Zionism and the religious extremist right, whose leaders support “Greater Israel” unconditionally, including bank of the west And the Gaza Stripeast jerusalem.

Aware that the end of the war in Gaza would be the end of his political career, Netanyahu has ruled out a two-state solution to satisfy his far-right allies, with recent polls confirming his collapse in support. ’s government coalition relies on whom to ensure he does not lose power.