Now Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s long-serving Prime Minister, has taken yet another dramatic political turn. Despite being under fire from new legal threats and stinging criticism, he signed a new ceasefire deal. The deal has been met with skepticism on both sides. Indeed, to some it appears to be merely a tactical move that will make him politically stronger.
Journalist Amit Segal emphasizes Netanyahu’s rare talent to walk through the labyrinth of Israeli media. He paints Netanyahu as a willing vocal foil to serve as a defender of his own interests. This portrayal supports the long-held characterization of Netanyahu as a man who will stop at nothing to protect his personal and political agenda. He’s on trial in an Israeli court today because of a 2019 indictment for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The consequences of his decisions are outlandishly high at this moment in history.
The charges against Netanyahu do indeed leave open the prospect of substantial prison time, increasing the stakes for his calculated political moves. Having served multiple terms as prime minister, he has consistently maintained a hardline stance against the establishment of a Palestinian state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This hardline stance is consistent with his deeply-rooted conviction that any Palestinian state represents an existential danger to Israel.
Netanyahu has been adept at “spinning multiple plates,” as observers note, carefully balancing various interests while seeking out the moves that will most effectively serve his agenda. His recent actions indicate that he has no intention of paving “a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” a fact that has not gone unnoticed in diplomatic circles.
Netanyahu’s agreement to sign the ceasefire deal caught many by surprise. Some critics now view it as part of a broader effort to control the narrative about his government amid heightened violence with the Palestinians. Since then, he’s been publicly extolling all the ways the new accord would improve things. Meanwhile, he is trying to raise the former U.S. president Donald Trump’s ego.
In a recent social media post, Netanyahu shared an AI-generated image depicting himself placing a giant “Nobel peace prize” medal around Trump’s neck. This gesture reflects Netanyahu’s awareness of the political capital that can be gained from aligning himself with influential figures like Trump, especially in light of Trump’s newfound fascination with a “Gaza Riviera.”
And in possible irony, critics posit that Netanyahu’s acceptance of this ceasefire deal marks a notorious departure from his past behavior. He has been accused of sabotaging ceasefire negotiations at nearly every turn, often cutting short previous agreements when they no longer suited his interests. His efforts seem clearly focused on driving about 2 million other Palestinians out of the demographic equation entirely.
Amit Segal highlighted this contradiction by stating, “There’s no phase two. That’s clear to everyone, right? Phase two might happen someday, but it’s unrelated to what’s just been signed. The deal signed now is a hostage release deal. It doesn’t imply anything about the future.”
The latest ceasefire deal has brought a new wave of doubt about its lasting effects. Many observers wonder whether this represents a genuine embrace of peace. They question if this is just another ploy by Netanyahu to continue his mastery of his political chessboard and avoid meaningful accountability for his past failures.
Though the story continues to develop, even in his absence Netanyahu is likely to be a highly polarizing force in Israeli political life. As with his predecessors, his success will depend largely on how well he bends his tactics to suit the tide. This flexibility will prove enormously important to his political survival and the prospect for peace in the region.