Foreign Policy.com: The Problem Isn't Just Netanyahu. It's Israeli Society

[LeftInTX]

A large majority—88 percent—of Jewish Israelis polled in January believe the astounding number of Palestinian deaths, which had surpassed 25,000 at the time, is justified. A large majority of the Jewish public also thinks that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is using adequate or even too little force in Gaza. Couched in the idea that Hamas forced this “war of no choice” upon Israel and the people of Gaza and that Hamas must be destroyed as a matter of Israeli survival, even the threat of imminent famine in Gaza has not provoked opposition to the campaign.

Further, in a February poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, around two-thirds of Jewish respondents (63 percent) said they oppose the proposal for Israel to agree in principle to the establishment of an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state. Israeli leaders have framed the movement underway internationally for governments to unilaterally recognize Palestine as a state to be rewarding the Palestinians for the Oct. 7 attack.

You don’t need a poll to discover that support for a two-state solution, much less for Palestinian basic rights of freedom and self-determination, has been steadily declining among Jewish Israelis in recent years, and today is probably the lowest it has ever been. You can just look at the positions of Israel’s Jewish political parties. Almost none of them endorse a two-state solution, and the ones in power actively reject it, working fastidiously to thwart it from ever happening.

The thousands of Israelis who are once again turning out to march in the streets are not protesting the war. Except for a tiny handful of Israelis, Jews, and Palestinians, they are not calling for a cease-fire or an end to the war—or for peace. They are not protesting Israel’s killing of unprecedented numbers of Palestinians in Gaza or its restrictions on humanitarian aid that have led to mass starvation. (Some right-wing Israelis even go further by actively blocking aid from entering the strip.) They are certainly not invoking the need to end military occupation, now in its 57th year. They are primarily protesting Netanyahu’s refusal to step down and what they see as his reluctance to seal a hostage deal.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/02/netanyahu-gaza-palestinians-war-israeli-society/

https://archive.ph/EFELX

(No end in sight)

[marybourg]

1. It's either Hamas or Israel. Hamas has made

it clear that they cannot both survive. Naturally enough, Israelis prefer that it’s Israel that survives.

[CincyDem]

2. So I'm confused.

In January 2024 we learn the problem is really Israeli society because 88% agree with bibi.

In December 2023, AP reports that 90% of Gaza residents agree with Hamas but many conclude Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza are separate entities.

What’s causing the differing conclusions?

[LeftInTX]

3. This poll:

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-palestinians-opinion-poll-wartime-views-a0baade915619cd070b5393844bc4514#:~:text=RAMALLAH%2C%20West%20Bank%20(AP),90%25%20saying%20he%20must%20resign.

Survey of Palestinians...How Palestinians feel is different than how Israelis feel. Some have claimed the AP poll wasn't accurate. It doesn't really matter, because people in unstable regions like Gaza often change their opinion very quickly.

We tend to impose our beliefs about how government should work in Israel. Bibi does not have the type of executive power that a US President has. Israel has a coalition government.


If Bibi goes, someone the same or worse will replace him. (With regards to Gaza)

Prior to Oct 7th, Israel was protesting Bibi's supreme court grab. They still are. This is independent of the Palestinian issue.

They also are protesting because Bibi has not returned hostages. To some in Israel, returning the hostage means becoming even more aggressive with Hamas and killing more Gaza civilians. Much of the protesting is about internal Israel drama. In the US, we tend to view everything through Israel/Palestine. Too many people in the US are interpreting the protests as signs that Israeli citizens want a ceasefire. But that isn't accurate. They want hostages returned and Bibi gone. A new prime mister will likely mean a less centralized government and less Bibi taking over courts. The new prime minister could be more right wing than Bibi when it comes to Palestinians.

[lapucelle]

4. According to the opinionist, not all Israelis are "the problem". It's just Jewish Israelis.

The Problem Isn’t Just Netanyahu. It’s Israeli Society.

Despite blaming the prime minister, a large majority of Jewish Israeli citizens support his destructive policies in Gaza and beyond.

A large majority—88 percent—of Jewish Israelis polled in January believe the astounding number of Palestinian deaths, which had surpassed 25,000 at the time, is justified. A large majority of the Jewish public also thinks that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is using adequate or even too little force in Gaza. Couched in the idea that Hamas forced this “war of no choice” upon Israel and the people of Gaza and that Hamas must be destroyed as a matter of Israeli survival, even the threat of imminent famine in Gaza has not provoked opposition to the campaign.

Further, in a February poll by the Israel Democracy Institute, around two-thirds of Jewish respondents (63 percent) said they oppose the proposal for Israel to agree in principle to the establishment of an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state. Israeli leaders have framed the movement underway internationally for governments to unilaterally recognize Palestine as a state to be rewarding the Palestinians for the Oct. 7 attack.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/04/02/netanyahu-gaza-palestinians-war-israeli-society/