Two-Week Ceasefire Sparks Legitimacy Crisis for Netanyahu’s Cabinet
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire after recent clashes between Iran and Israel, speculation about the political future of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified. Al Jazeera has reported that several analysts view this ceasefire as a turning point that could mark the end of his political era, especially as he faces ongoing legal challenges.
Fatemeh Khamaisi, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Palestine, reported that in the final moments of the conflict, missiles struck central and southern parts of Israel, including the city of Dimona. According to her, millions sought shelter, and a building in the Petah Tikva area east of Tel Aviv was directly targeted.
Dr. Muhannad Mustafa, an expert on Israeli affairs, stated that this war, whether it stops at this stage or not, could seriously impact Netanyahu’s political future. He believes the events have been interpreted as Iran gaining the upper hand in recent equations, which may weaken Netanyahu’s standing among Israeli voters.
Mustafa described the ceasefire as a political defeat for Netanyahu and added that the expansion of the conflict to the Lebanese front and Hezbollah’s role have presented a new challenge to Israeli society. He noted that under these circumstances, the likelihood of convincing US President Donald Trump to continue the war has diminished.
The analyst also said that even if Netanyahu presents the creation of a buffer zone in Lebanon as an achievement, there is no guarantee of regaining voters’ support, since the expectations set at the start of the war were not fully met.
Meanwhile, Miles Kegener, a visiting member of the US Council on Foreign Relations, stated that Washington can persuade Netanyahu to halt targeting Iran but may allow him to continue military actions in areas perceived by Israel as security threats.
Dr. Mahjoub Al-Zuwairee, a Middle East policy expert, referred to Iran’s final missile attacks as carrying a political message indicating that Tehran has maintained cohesion in its decision-making. He added that Donald Trump’s remarks about these attacks suggest Washington has concluded that continuing the war under current conditions is difficult.
Overall, the ceasefire announcement not only temporarily ended recent hostilities but also introduced a new phase in debates over its political consequences for Israeli leadership.
