A front-row seat to the implosion of Israel’s government
Amid an existential war, Israel’s government is fracturing under unprecedented internal conflicts and divisions as power struggles threaten to dismantle its leadership and transform a once formidable state into an irreparably fractured entity.

Anis Raiss, SEP 4, 2024

Imagine a once-dominant sports team now in disarray: players rebelling against their coach, the coaching staff at odds, and fans, representing the Israeli public, protesting en masse in the streets. This is the current state of affairs in Israel.

Just two days ago, Israel witnessed yet another massive protest ignited by the deaths of six captives held in Gaza. The discovery of their bodies triggered widespread anger and led to hundreds of thousands of Jewish Israelis taking to the streets of Tel Aviv and other major cities. Amid clashes with police, they demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conclude a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, while calls were made for a general strike by the national labor union.

The occupation forces, the cornerstone of Israel’s expansionist ambitions, are faltering under internal disputes. Public spats between Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reveal a government in chaos, with clashing agendas and eroding strategy.

Even the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, has criticized extremist influences within the government, further exposing the deepening rifts. Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has taken to calling the forces of extremism “Jewish terrorism,” which he believes will “endanger Israel’s existence.”

Netanyahu’s Napoleonic parallels and internal discord

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent actions have exposed these fractures further. On 17 July, during a Knesset debate, Netanyahu dismissed calls for an independent civilian probe into the 7 October Al-Aqsa Flood resistance operation, comparing these demands to bureaucratic distractions faced by military leaders during the Napoleonic wars.

He suggested that any inquiry should wait until after the war on Gaza ends, revealing a reluctance to prioritize transparency during wartime.

Netanyahu’s comparison to Napoleon is telling: just as Napoleon’s retreat from Russia signaled his downfall, Netanyahu’s avoidance of accountability foreshadows a similar retreat into failure. As Hamas snipers and ambushes inflict daily casualties on Israeli forces, what once seemed like a swift, decisive campaign has devolved into a protracted conflict, reflecting disloyalty and despair within Netanyahu’s ranks.

The Knesset vote back in June to advance the Haredi Draft Law, requiring ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve in the military, has also sparked feelings of betrayal among Israeli reservists. For years, the Haredim, who enjoy significant political influence within the state, have avoided conscription, citing religious study as their basis for exemption.

Reservists, already overextended by the widening war, feel abandoned by a government prioritizing political alliances over national security needs, deepening the divide between Israel’s secular and religious communities.

Clearly, the discord extends beyond political disagreements, deeply permeating Tel Aviv’s security apparatus. On 20 August, a mother of one of the Israeli prisoners speaking at an independent “civilian commission” revealed that Mossad director David Barnea had told her that a prisoner deal is impossible “because of politics.” The Mossad later denied this claim.

Meanwhile, families of captives accused Ben Gvir of obstructing prisoner exchange efforts, further inflaming public sentiment and intensifying discord within the occupation government.

Jewish terrorism and the erosion of military unity

Ben Gvir embodies the growing disarray within Israel’s governance. On 19 April, he tweeted a single word – “Dardaleh!” Hebrew slang for weak or disappointing – following Israel’s alleged attack on Iran. This tweet publicly mocked the Israeli military, stripping away the veneer of strength that Tel Aviv strives to project.

Ben Gvir’s recklessness didn’t stop there. After Iran’s initial retaliatory strikes earlier that month, which he claimed destroyed two Israeli military bases and caused heavy casualties – statements starkly contradicting the official narrative – Ben Gvir deepened the existing fissures within Israel’s leadership.

His remarks struck a blow to the carefully curated image of military unity that Israel’s leadership tries to maintain, embarrassing a military apparatus that prides itself on projecting invincibility.

Ben Gvir’s provocations extend to frequent visits to and inflammatory remarks over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a site of immense religious significance and historical tension. These visits, accompanied by armed Israeli security forces, far from being mere symbolic gestures, have ignited conflict not only with Palestinians but also within Israel’s government and the international community. ...