{"id":19479,"date":"2024-04-05T22:14:13","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T22:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/05\/after-6-months-of-war-some-israelis-wonder-if-netanyahu-is-dragging-it-out\/"},"modified":"2024-04-05T22:14:13","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T22:14:13","slug":"after-6-months-of-war-some-israelis-wonder-if-netanyahu-is-dragging-it-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/05\/after-6-months-of-war-some-israelis-wonder-if-netanyahu-is-dragging-it-out\/","title":{"rendered":"After 6 months of war, some Israelis wonder if Netanyahu is dragging it out."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nearly six months since it began, Israel\u2019s war in Gaza is dragging on. So, too, is the tenure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>. In Israel, some are now asking: Are the two linked?<\/p>\n

To his allies, Mr. Netanyahu\u2019s refusal to agree to a cease-fire in Gaza is a necessary one, made in the national interest and backed by many Israelis. The thinking goes that Israel must cripple Hamas to weaken its hand at cease-fire negotiations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To his critics, the prime minister is dragging out the war to prevent the collapse of his fragile right-wing coalition<\/a> and extend his time in office. By this analysis, he has made a domestic calculus<\/a> that ignores both the growing global anger about the bloodshed<\/a> \u2014 including from Israel\u2019s most powerful ally, President Biden, which erupted into full view on Thursday<\/a> \u2014 and the rising anger from the families of Israeli hostages who seek their relatives\u2019 immediate release.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s longest-serving prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu has long been portrayed as a vacillator who prefers to delay decisions for as long as possible so that he can keep all of his options open.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n