Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival, Benny Gantz, accused the Israeli prime minister of putting his personal interests above those of the country after he again on Monday insisted on the need for Israeli control of the Gaza-Egypt border, a position that is emerging as the main obstacle to reaching a ceasefire agreement.
On September 3, during the Israel Bar Association's annual conference in Tel Aviv, the leader of the center-right National Unity party said Netanyahu had "lost his way" and "sees himself as the state ... that's dangerous." he said.
On Monday night, Netanyahu insisted that Israel must retain control of the "Philadelphia" corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt, a position he warned was jeopardizing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in the war. with Hamas.
As angry protesters take to the streets, Netanyahu may have reached his political impasse.
At a press conference on Tuesday evening, Gantz said that while the corridor was important to prevent Hamas and other Palestinian militants from smuggling weapons into Gaza, soldiers would be "sitting ducks" and not stop the tunnels.
Gantz refuted Netanyahu's claim that if Israel withdrew from Philadelphia, international pressure would make it difficult to return. "We will be able to come back to Philadelphia if and when we have to," Gantz said, also calling for new elections. "If Netanyahu does not understand that after October 7 everything has changed ... and if he is not strong enough to withstand international pressure to return to Philadelphia, let him hang up the keys and go home."
Netanyahu has not made regular speeches since Oct. 7, but on Monday made a televised address in response to unprecedented protests across Israel in support of the deal and a general strike sparked by the discovery of six hostages killed in Gaza. The prime minister ruled out making any "concessions" in the stalled talks or "bowing to pressure" to end the war, which is approaching its 12th month.
In July, Hamas and Israel agreed in principle to implement a three-step plan publicly proposed by Joe Biden in May. Hamas has since said that the latest version of the proposal presented differs significantly from the original plan as new Israeli demands have been added, including the permanent deployment of Israeli troops along the Gaza-Egypt border and the Netzarim Corridor, the new Israeli-controlled barrier that cuts off a city Gaza from the southern part of the strip.
Hamas has long demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and Egypt has said a heavy Israeli military presence along its border threatens the peace deal between the two countries.
The future of "Philadelphia" has also caused friction in Netanyahu's cabinet: his defense minister, Yoav Galant, has publicly called on the Israeli leader to compromise on the issue, arguing that a deal that frees the hostages in Gaza should be the government's top priority. | BGNES
