Rejection of Netanyahu – Diario de Yucatán

JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered outside the Parliament building in Jerusalem yesterday in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October.

Protesters urged the government to reach a deal to release dozens of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and to hold early elections.

Israeli society was largely united in the immediate followingmath of October 7, when Hamas killed some 1,200 people during a cross-border attack and took another 250 hostage. After nearly six months of conflict, divisions have renewed over the former’s government. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, although the country remains largely in favor of war.

Netanyahu has pledged to destroy Hamas and bring all hostages home, but those goals have been elusive. Although Hamas has suffered heavy losses, it remains standing.

About half of the hostages were freed during a week-long ceasefire in November, but repeated attempts by international mediators to negotiate another truce deal have failed. Talks resumed on Sunday, with no indication a deal was in sight.

The families of the hostages feel that time is running out, and are more openly expressing their discontent with Netanyahu’s performance.

“After six months, it seems that the government understands that Bibi Netanyahu is an obstacle,” said protester Einav Moses, whose father-in-law Gadi Moses remains held hostage. “Like he didn’t really want to bring them back; that they have failed in this mission.”

The crowd stretched for blocks around the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), and organizers vowed to continue the protest for several days. They urged the Israeli government to hold new elections almost two years ahead of schedule. Thousands of people also protested in Tel Aviv.

“We believe that no hostage will return to this government because they are busy putting obstacles in the negotiations for the hostages,” said Boaz Atzili, whose cousin, Aviv Atlizi, and his wife, Liat, were kidnapped on October 7. Lait was freed but Aviv was killed and his body remains in Gaza. “Netanyahu is only working in his own interests.”

Many hostage families had refrained from publicly denouncing Netanyahu to avoid antagonizing the leadership and turning the hostages’ plight into a political issue. But now some want to change course.

In a nationally televised speech Sunday before undergoing surgery for a hernia, Netanyahu said he understood the pain of the hostages’ families. But he noted that calling new elections — at what he described as a moment before victory — would paralyze Israel for six to eight months and stall negotiations on his release. For now, Netanyahu’s coalition government appears to remain firmly intact.

“I will do everything possible to bring the hostages home,” he said.

Netanyahu also reiterated his promise to carry out a ground military offensive in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where Israel says the remaining Hamas battalions are located. More than half of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants now take refuge there following fleeing fighting elsewhere.

“There is no victory without entering Rafah,” he said, adding that US pressure will not deter him.

Allies and humanitarian aid groups have warned of a catastrophe if the ground offensive in Rafah goes ahead.

In another reminder of the divisions in Israel, a group of reservists and retired officers demonstrated in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood.

For generations, ultra-Orthodox men have received exemptions from military service, which is mandatory for most Jewish men and women. Resentment over this has deepened during the war. Netanyahu’s government has been ordered to present a new plan for a more equitable recruitment bill on Monday.

Netanyahu, who relies heavily on support from ultra-Orthodox parties, asked for an extension last week.

“It is necessary to promote equality. This can be done with hammers, but it won’t work,” he asserted.

In its annual report, the Bank of Israel warned on Sunday of potential economic damage if large numbers of ultra-Orthodox men continue not to serve in Israel’s military.