Israel’s right far-right security cabinet was unanimous in its opposition to the US-proposed ceasefire measure earlier today, and its more hawkish members are being increasingly public about their opposition to ceasefire in general.
“If Bibi ends it now – he’s finished,” warned one of the cabinet members in comments to the press, as another insisted Israel’s survival depended on ensuring that no ceasefire was reach.
These aren’t political opponents of Prime Minister Netanyahu either – some are members of his own Likud Party. So while Netanyahu is said to be getting cold feet about further escalation and looking for a way out before the Israeli military toll gets too large, the risk of losing his own party’s support is keeping the war going.
Israeli media reports say Netanyahu’s primary planning for the war is done with Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, comparative moderates on the security cabinet, but how they will ever muster a majority to end the war remains unclear.
Looming large is not only the risk of new Likud splits, but of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman or someone else forcing early elections as a result, and trying to parlay the peace into a new, even more pro-war coalition.
