Sawsan Sarour: The war contributed to weakening the Israeli opposition, and the expected judicial changes may bring it back to the scene with force

Issam Makhoul: Netanyahu's latest speech resembles a coup against the ruling establishment and the deep state in Israel

Dr. Muhammad Halsa: Netanyahu is the product of a deep understanding of the Israeli and American mentality, which enabled him to turn the situation to his advantage.

Tawfiq Abu Shomer: There is a hidden “empire” that supports Netanyahu and moves him within the framework of a project much larger than his person

Ihab Jabareen: Netanyahu managed to fortify his government, while the opposition suffers from internal divisions and lacks a unified vision to oust him

The uproar caused by the opposition and its disruption of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his last speech in the Knesset, despite its importance, is not an indication of a form of “awakening” in Israeli society that may soon succeed in undermining his position within Israeli society after he succeeded in creating a state of panic and fear of external enemies, and that he is the only one capable of confronting and defeating these enemies who represent an existential threat to the State of Israel.

However, what the Knesset witnessed does not in any way rise to the level of the massive protest events that took place in the streets of Israel in protest against Netanyahu’s policies, especially with regard to concluding a deal with Hamas to return the Israeli detainees. However, he did not leave any pretext or obstacle unused to delay reaching this deal because it is linked to conditions that affect his aggressive plans in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Lebanon.

Writers and analysts believe that the Israeli opposition is in a state of weakness and disintegration that does not qualify it to be a real alternative to the ruling right-wing coalition led by Netanyahu, and that its disagreement with him is not fundamental. On the contrary, it supports him in his aggressive approach and policy in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, even if it disagrees with him personally, or in demanding a deal to return the Israeli prisoners.

Netanyahu receives a hot slap on the Knesset podium

Journalist Susan Sarour, who follows the political scene in Israel, said, “In his last speech on the Knesset floor last Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a hot slap not only from opposition members, but also from the families of Israeli detainees and their foreign supporters, when they obstructed his speech more than once, and directed insults, words of contempt, and accusations of lying and misleading.”

She pointed out that "Netanyahu, the seasoned political figure, who during his successive terms in office chose a policy of intimidation and fear-mongering about external dangers, in order to win the Israeli public around him, as the sole savior, continues this policy, and today he is aiming his arrows at Hamas after its leader Yahya Sinwar was the obstacle, according to what he claimed, in not concluding a deal to return the kidnapped Israelis who have been held in the Gaza Strip for more than 400 days."

Sarour stressed that in his last speech, Netanyahu tried to repeat his arrogant, haughty appearance in the US Congress months ago, but his attempt failed. Here, he found the real response, not the hypocritical one, as it was, which brings me back to what former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a television interview, that Netanyahu’s speech was the worst speech given by any foreign official before the US Congress.

Knesset members disrupt Netanyahu's speech

“Despite all that Netanyahu claimed about a complete and certain victory, the strenuous efforts to return the detainees, his sympathy for the combat soldiers and the dead, his neglect to mention the problem of recruiting the Haredim, the talk about the Iranian threat, and other urgent issues that prompted opposition members of parliament to disrupt and obstruct his speech in succession, the position of the opposition in Israel is still marginal, very weak, and even deplorable,” she said.

She added: "Netanyahu recently succeeded in adding the right-wing national party led by Gideon Sa'ar to his coalition, bringing it to 68 members, thus enabling him to hold on to his government until the end of the October 2026 session."

Surur stated that "the war on Gaza and Lebanon contributed to the dismantling of the Israeli opposition, and weakened it more than it was before, and with the continuation of the war, it will not be able to be an alternative to the current government, and as long as Netanyahu is the one who benefits from the continuation of the war, it will continue and the opposition will remain on the margins of the margin."

“In recent days, we have begun to hear about the government’s return to work on judicial changes (coup), and efforts to oust Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, in order to strengthen Netanyahu and his government’s position. Perhaps then we will see momentum from the opposition, and an opposition response to these efforts, and thus we could witness a significant development at the level of the opposition. Until then, I do not see any effective role for the opposition in Israel,” she said.

Netanyahu acts like a "raging bull"

In turn, Issam Makhoul, Director of the Emile Touma Center for Palestinian and Israeli Studies, said: The recent speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reflects an act resembling a coup against the ruling establishment and the deep state in Israel.

Makhoul added: "After Netanyahu succeeded in dismissing Israeli Security Minister Yoav Galant, he is now planning to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet and the government's legal advisor, as part of his efforts to implement the judicial coup that he began since coming to power last year."

Makhoul explained that Netanyahu is acting like a "raging bull", as he seeks to fuel internal and external clashes in Israel, believing that any internal stability could threaten his rule.

He stressed that the Israeli Prime Minister aims to continue the war and prevent any settlement with the Palestinians, in the Gaza Strip, or on the Lebanese front, as he feels that his authority grows stronger the more violence is committed against the Palestinians and the Lebanese, as well as against the Israeli public itself.

Makhoul pointed out that the Israeli opposition is limited to formal disagreements with Netanyahu's policies, without offering a real intellectual or political alternative.

He added: "The opposition does not present a political project as an alternative to occupation, settlement and fascism, which makes the political conflict in Israel limited to superficial matters without moving towards the core issues."

Makhoul stressed the importance of the demonstrations organised by the families of Israeli prisoners against Netanyahu’s government, considering that these demonstrations represent part of the accumulated societal resistance.

But he pointed out that these demonstrations need to transform into a real political force, especially in light of the historical circumstances that Israel and the region are going through.

Netanyahu has the experience and cunning to remain in power

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Halsa, an expert in Israeli affairs, said: Benjamin Netanyahu’s continued rule as head of the Israeli government is the result of subjective and objective factors that serve his continued rule, despite the internal and external challenges he faces.

Halsa explained that Netanyahu has political experience and cunning that enabled him to remain in power for nearly two decades, pointing to his ability to understand internal and external contradictions and exploit and play on them to his advantage.

He believed that "Netanyahu is not just a prime minister, but rather the product of a deep understanding of the Israeli and American mentality, which makes him capable of turning the scene to his advantage, which was evident from the opinion polls that gave him an advantage over his opponents, unlike what was known at the beginning of the war."

He added: "Netanyahu is betting on the time factor by prolonging the war, with the aim of transforming from a "failed leader" to a "national hero", relying on his long experience in manipulating the political scene to achieve his goals."

As for the opposition, Halsa described it as a "weak, formal opposition" that lacks the strength and ability to present a real alternative to Netanyahu.

He added: "The opposition does not have a problem with Netanyahu's policies per se, but only with him as a person, and this is what makes it unable to confront him in a fundamental way."

He pointed out that the opposition's positions, which often seem contradictory, sometimes come in the context of antagonizing Netanyahu only. When Netanyahu calls for stopping the war, the opposition demands that he continue, and when he seeks escalation, it opposes that under the pretext of negotiation. "This contradiction exposes its weakness and gives Netanyahu more room to control the political scene."

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir's positions are part of Netanyahu's game

Halsa also stressed that Netanyahu's right-wing government enjoys a state of internal harmony and that the positions of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, which threaten to dissolve the government when pressure increases to stop the war, are nothing but a political game aimed at strengthening Netanyahu's positions and relieving pressure on him, as if to say, "Netanyahu is not alone in his positions, but this is the position of the majority of Israeli society."

"Netanyahu is right-wing par excellence, and is often more extreme in his policies than Smotrich appears on the surface," Halsa added.

At the level of Israeli society, Halsa believes that Netanyahu is taking advantage of the state of fear and existential anxiety that controls Israelis, and is leading them as a “herd” towards adopting his policies.

He explained that this society, which used to fill the streets in protest against Netanyahu's policies before the war, today seems to be in line with his orientations as a result of the existential anxiety complex and the scarecrow that Netanyahu is waving to continue to obtain legitimacy for the continuation of the war.

Halsa expected that Netanyahu would remain in office until the end of his term, and might return again through the ballot box, despite the crises that are plaguing him internally, such as corruption and mismanagement issues.

Halsa concluded by saying: "Netanyahu has proven that he is able to emerge from any crisis stronger than he was, and it seems that his bet on survival may return him to the prime minister's office after the end of this government's term."

Netanyahu is not alone in the Israeli political scene

For his part, writer and political researcher Tawfiq Abu Shomer confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not alone in the Israeli political scene, despite what appears on the surface to be the sole leader.

He pointed out that there is a hidden "empire" that supports his decisions and moves him within the framework of a project much larger than himself.

Abu Shomer pointed out that there are huge lobbies and associations behind Netanyahu, the most prominent of which is the Israeli Victory Forum, a joint American-Israeli forum that was established a long time ago to implement a specific vision: for Israel to win militarily over its enemies.

He stressed that this support goes beyond Israeli borders to include American parties such as the Messianic Zionists who constitute an influential force within the US Congress.

Abu Shomer pointed to the Kohelet Association as one of the oldest Israeli groups that supports Netanyahu's policies.

The association is working to push for the reoccupation of Gaza and the obliteration of any horizon for Palestinian nationalism, which makes Netanyahu supported by both Israeli and American forces.

He explained that what the Zionist messianists support is based on a theological idea: the return of the promised Jewish Messiah (the Messiah) is conditional on Israel’s victory over its “enemies,” whom Israel considers descendants of the “Amalekites.”

He pointed out that these ideas are supported by millions of evangelical Christians in the United States, estimated at more than 240 million people, the same group that supported Donald Trump and his pro-Israel policies.

Abu Shomer believes that the far-right government led by Netanyahu is nothing more than a tool for implementing the project of the great Israeli national homeland, as all spectrums of Israeli extremism are working to achieve this goal.

Netanyahu represents a group of major interests.

He stressed that Netanyahu is not acting as an individual, but rather as a representative of a group of major interests that support him, noting that the idea of trying Netanyahu on corruption charges or internal strikes is only a secondary detail within the framework of the larger project.

Despite the crises facing Netanyahu's government, Abu Shomer believes that the Israeli opposition is not strong enough to topple him. He has been challenging many for 15 years.

He explained that Netanyahu is the executor of a major international project that bypasses Israel, which makes it impossible to remove him before he completes his role and defeats the axis, as it is called in Israel, meaning that the axis abandons Gaza.

Abu Shomer stressed that Netanyahu is nothing more than a "contractor" implementing a grand plan, and that focusing on him ignores the reality of the great messianic project supported by internal and external forces. He pointed out that this grand plan represents the essence of Israeli policy at the current stage.

Abu Shomer stressed that what is happening is part of an international project that is bigger than any individual, even if he is the size of Netanyahu.

Pushing the case for judicial amendments

As for the expert in Israeli affairs, Ihab Jabareen, he said, “The Israeli opposition tried during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in the Knesset to exhaust him and pressure him, exploiting the many issues surrounding him.”

Jabareen pointed out that the most prominent of these issues include leaks, the conditions of prisoners, the usefulness of the war, and disagreements with the government's legal advisor.

Jabareen explained that Netanyahu is seeking to circumvent these crises by pushing the issue of judicial amendments that he directed Minister of Justice Yariv Levin to implement, in addition to his attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the Attorney General and the Israeli judiciary.

Jabareen stressed that Netanyahu was able to fortify his government and close the outlets that the opposition might exploit to overthrow him.

"Governments in Israel are not killed, but rather commit suicide," he said, referring to Netanyahu's ability to maintain the stability of his government despite internal and external crises.

He pointed out that Netanyahu was able to address the divisions within the Likud party, which strengthened the cohesion of the bloc around him compared to last year.

Jabareen pointed to the move to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Galant as an example of Netanyahu's ability to impose his control, explaining that in the past the opposition needed the support of only three coalition members to topple the government, while today it needs at least nine votes, reflecting the fortifications he has made.

Approval of the 2025 budget before the end of 2024

He also noted that Netanyahu rushed to approve the 2025 budget before the end of 2024, in a preemptive move to avoid the budget becoming a weak point that the opposition could exploit.

He added: "Netanyahu realizes the importance of resolving financial issues early to ensure the stability of his government."

Jabareen believes that the Israeli opposition suffers from internal divisions and lacks a unified vision to overthrow Netanyahu.

He said: "Her attempts to take action on the ground or in parliament often clash with Netanyahu's strategy, which relies on turning the debate into national issues that enjoy popular consensus, such as the war on Lebanon."

He added: "The recent laws passed by the Knesset strengthen the government's immunity and make the opposition weaker than ever, noting that the opposition's attempts to exhaust the government have not yet achieved their goals."

Jabareen stressed that the opposition's chances of overthrowing Netanyahu are slim, but not impossible.

"Netanyahu's strength lies in his possession of the only political discourse in Israel at the moment. If the opposition can formulate a strong alternative discourse, it may be able to turn the tide," he added.