Itamar Ben Gvirs’ Big Gamble!
Itamar Ben Gvir and his Party’s resignation from the Netanyahu government over the concessions it made to terrorists in Gaza for the partial release of hostages and withdrawal from strategic areas of Gaza may turn out to be a strategic blunder or a stroke of political genius either way it’s a big gamble. Much depends on President Donald Trump’s first hundred days in Office. Should President Trump give Israel the ‘green light’ to re-enter Gaza to eliminate Hamas and a free hand in dealing with Iran’s nuclear facilities, then Ben Gvir loses. On the other hand, if Trump pressures Israel to accommodate Hamas and Iran while leaving both of them intact, then Itamar Ben Gvir will be the big winner come the next Israel election.
The last thing Binyamin Netanyahu wants is blood-soaked headlines of Jews being murdered by Hamas terrorists recently released in exchange for a handful of hostages. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would be under extreme pressure to resign or call an early election. One need not have a fertile imagination to realise what the situation of the State of Israel would be should the unthinkable be unleashed on the Jewish people. Anyone who finds it difficult to visualise this nightmarish picture only has to remember what happened on October 7 2023.
Netanyahu, the epic embodiment of courage and determination, would be so discredited in the eyes of a grieving, disappointed nation that he would be compelled to resign. Doing so would open the way for Itamar Ben Gvir to become the Kingmaker.
Your perspective on Itamar Ben Gvir’s political strategy is thought-provoking. While it is clear that his resignation over the government’s concessions to Hamas reflects his principled stance, it is worth considering whether his gamble risks alienating voters who prioritize national unity and stability during crises.
A question for the author: Given the volatile nature of Israeli politics and the unpredictability of international support, do you believe that Ben Gvir’s decision could undermine the very security policies he seeks to champion by potentially destabilizing the current coalition?
The destabilising of the Netanyahu government has already taken place by its acceptance of the current hostage deal. A truly sovereign state would have rejected the terms and continued with its original war aims.