Latest news with #YisraelBeiteinu
Al Mayadeen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Netanyahu prolonging Gaza war for far-right ministers, Lieberman says
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former Israeli security minister, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of deliberately extending the war in Gaza to satisfy far-right members of his cabinet. Lieberman stated that Netanyahu is trying to appease Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir by continuing the aggression on the besieged Strip despite growing military consensus that the war has achieved its strategic goals. 'As long as the Chief of Staff says the operation in Gaza has fulfilled its objectives, what are we still doing there?' Lieberman asked. His remarks follow a statement made earlier by Israeli occupation forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who indicated that the war objectives in Gaza had been exhausted, signaling a potential shift in military posture. The growing divide between political and military leadership has added further strain to the Israeli war cabinet, where far-right influence continues to shape key decisions despite opposition from within the establishment. Meanwhile, tensions within Netanyahu's government escalated after IOF Chief Halevi warned that expanding military operations in Gaza could jeopardize the lives of Israeli captives still held in the Strip. His caution triggered a wave of backlash from far-right ministers, including Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who have long rejected any constraints on the army's actions in Gaza. A senior Palestinian official speaking to Al Mayadeen revealed that the issue of Israeli withdrawal continues to stall progress in the Doha negotiations. 'The withdrawal point is still unresolved, and it is directly linked to the aid mechanism, and vice versa,' the official said. The source added that the Israeli military refuses to withdraw from several strategic areas, including Rafah, eastern Khan Younis, eastern Gaza City, and Tal al-Zaatar in the northern part of the Strip. Furthermore, the occupation insists on maintaining control over the aid entry points it has established during the conflict, a mechanism the Palestinian Resistance unequivocally rejects. On the diplomatic front, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour overnight meeting with the Qatari delegation at the White House to advance discussions on a Gaza ceasefire. The talks follow a second meeting in 24 hours between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas announced on Saturday that it has completed wide-ranging consultations with fellow Palestinian factions and submitted a joint response to mediators on the latest ceasefire framework aimed at halting the Israeli occupation's war on the Gaza Strip. In a statement issued by its National Relations Office, Hamas said it held 'an extensive series of contacts' with leaders of national and Islamic factions to coordinate and agree on a single position regarding the proposal's terms and the mechanisms for implementation. The talks, described as 'serious and practical,' produced what the movement called a 'unified national consensus' backing the stance of the Palestinian Resistance. 'All factions welcomed this unified reply,' the statement noted, adding that the response was forwarded to mediators 'in a positive spirit and with full unanimity' after both internal and external consultations were finalized.
Mint
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Israeli lawmakers react to ceasefire with Iran: ‘Leaving a wounded lion behind'
Israeli lawmakers reacted to the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which went into effect on Tuesday, potentially concluding a 12-day war. Some Israeli lawmakers praised Israel's military and intelligence achievements in Iran, and others noted that now was the time to end Israel's war in Gaza. Avigdor Lieberman, former Defence Minister and chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, warned that 'there is nothing more dangerous than leaving a wounded lion behind.' While praising Israel's 'stunning military achievements,' he cautioned that 'instead of an unconditional surrender, the world is entering a difficult and exhausting negotiation process.' Lieberman expressed concern that the ceasefire could lead to a renewed conflict, as the Iranian regime shows no intention of halting Iran's nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile development, or support for terrorism. He stressed that without a clear and decisive agreement, 'a ceasefire without a clear and unambiguous agreement will lead us to a new war… in two or three years, but in much worse conditions for Israel'. Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, emphasised that 'this was now the moment to close that front' in Gaza. He added, 'To bring the hostages home, to end the war. Israel needs to start rebuilding.' Lapid called for an urgent focus on resolving the conflict and beginning the process of recovery. Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, stated that Israel's campaign against Iran 'ended with a clear security achievement.' In a post on X, he urged that the ceasefire agreement be 'closely examined,' questioning, 'does it prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and what sanctions, including the resumption of fighting, will be imposed if it is violated.' Golan also called for an end to Israel's war in Gaza, stressing the need to 'return all the hostages, end the war in Gaza, and stop once and for all the coup that threatens to make Israel weak, divided, and vulnerable.' Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right finance minister, said Israel has achieved 'a crushing victory in the campaign against Iran that will be recorded gloriously in the pages of the history of the State of Israel.' Smotrich said an 'immediate existential threat' has been removed. 'Now with all our strength to Gaza,' he said, 'to destroy Hamas and return our hostages.' The Middle East has been a tinderbox since October 2023, when Hamas fighters from Gaza entered Israel, killed hundreds and took dozens more hostage. Israel responded with an invasion of the Palestinian enclave to root out Hamas from tunnels and other fortifications that have left over 55,000 people dead, much of Gaza in ruins and its population of 2.1 million at risk of famine, according to the World Health Organisation. While the world's attention has been on Israel's fighting with Iran, dozens of people have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza as they scramble to get the limited food aid allowed into the territory, including 21 in the past day, Palestinians say. A group advocating for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza has called for the ceasefire between Israel and Iran to be expanded to include the war-torn enclave. 'Those who can achieve a ceasefire with Iran can also end the war in Gaza,' the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement Tuesday. The forum said the ceasefire 'must expand to include Gaza' and called on the government 'to engage in urgent negotiations that will bring home all the hostages and end the war.' 'After 12 days and nights during which the people of Israel could not sleep because of Iran, we can finally go back to not sleeping because of the hostages,' the forum said.
Irish Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Netanyahu's ruling party gets popularity boost in wake of Iran conflict
The popularity of prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu 's Likud party has improved since Israel began its conflict with Iran last week. A poll published on Friday by the Ma'ariv newspaper found that if an election were to be held, Mr Netanyahu's ruling Likud party would register 27 seats in the Israeli Knesset, up from 24 in a similar poll last week. This is the party's highest showing since the Hamas invasion of southern Israel on October 7th 2023. Likud holds 32 seats in the current parliament . Yisrael Beiteinu, a rival right-wing party headed by former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, is the second most popular party with 19 seats. The poll predicts the right-wing and religious parties that make up Mr Netanyahu's coalition would fail to clinch a majority, winning 51 of the 120 seats in the Knesset parliament. READ MORE However, in the event that former prime minister Naftali Bennett runs as the head of a new right-wing party in the next election – which must be held by October 2026 – the poll shows Likud dropping to 24 seats, one more than Mr Bennett's party. Under such a scenario, the current coalition parties would drop to 46 members in the next Knesset. [ Israel-Iran war: Gulf states scramble to secure diplomatic solution Opens in new window ] A small majority for the opposition parties at the next election might not be so bad for Mr Netanyahu. Most of the mainstream Zionist parties have indicated that they will not sit in a future coalition with two Arab parties, which together consistently poll 10 seats. If no bloc formed a working majority, Mr Netanyahu would continue as transitional prime minister. Friday's poll also showed that 46 per cent of Israelis believe that removing the threat of nuclear weapons and/or ballistic missiles should be the main aim of the week-old war against Iran. Some 43 per cent cited regime change. Other polls indicate that 77-83 per cent of Israelis support the war against Iran.
News18
06-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Netanyahu Confirms Israel Arming Groups Opposed To Hamas In Gaza: 'What's Bad About That'
Last Updated: Israel- Hamas War: Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, saying, 'What's wrong with this? It saves the lives of Israeli soldiers." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Tel Aviv is arming factions in Gaza that oppose Hamas, prompting fierce criticism and warnings from former officials as well as defence analysts. It was earlier reported that Benjamin Netanyahu personally approved the transfer of weapons to a Gaza-based group led by Yasser Abu Shabab, a controversial figure linked to a local clan in Rafah. In a video posted on social media, Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, saying, 'What's wrong with this? It saves the lives of Israeli soldiers. Publicising it only helps Hamas." Defence Officials Confirm Weapons Transfers Reports claimed, citing Israeli defence sources, that the weapons- primarily Kalashnikov rifles, including some seized from Hamas- were provided to the Abu Shabab group with Benjamin Netanyahu's authorisation to the clan which operates in the Rafah area, currently under Israeli military control. Earlier, Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former defence minister, accused Benjamin Netanyahu of bypassing cabinet approval to arm a group of 'criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group". He said, 'To my knowledge, this did not go through cabinet," adding that the move endangers Israeli national security. Clan Backed By Benjamin Netanyahu Accused of Looting Aid, Ties Denied The armed group, which calls itself the Popular Forces, claims its purpose is to protect humanitarian aid convoys in Gaza. However, reports suggest the faction has instead been looting those convoys. The European Council on Foreign Relations previously labelled Abu Shabab's group a 'criminal gang." Hamas has condemned the group, accusing its members of 'theft and betrayal". Meanwhile, Abu Shabab, in a statement posted online, denied receiving Israeli support, saying, 'Our weapons are simple, outdated, and came through the support of our own people." Benjamin Netanyahu 'Restless'? Former deputy IDF chief and opposition politician Yair Golan, who leads the Democrats party, called the move 'reckless." In a post on X, he wrote, 'Netanyahu is a threat to Israel's national security. Instead of securing a deal to bring home the hostages and ensuring the safety of Israeli citizens, he's creating a new ticking time bomb in Gaza." About the Author First Published:
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netanyahu confirms Israel arming clans opposed to Hamas in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza that he says are opposed to Hamas. His comments came after Israeli media reports quoted defence sources as saying Netanyahu had authorised giving weapons to one particular group in the south of Gaza. Several Israeli politicians have accused Netanyahu of endangering Israeli security. "What's wrong with this?" Netanyahu says in a short video he's tweeted. "It only saves the lives of Israeli solders", he continues - "and publicising it only helps Hamas". What the Israeli prime minister is referring to are the reports that Israel under his authorisation has been supplying weapons to a clan in Gaza led by a man called Yasser Abu Shabab. The group, which some see as a militia or a criminal gang, has presented itself as an opposition force to Hamas. It says its aim is to protect trucks bringing aid into Gaza, but critics say it is doing the opposite and is looting them. The revelations may have been brushed off by Benjamin Netanyahu, but they have the potential of developing into a serious new political scandal. Israeli defence sources had earlier confirmed to local journalists that accusations made by the opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman were correct. Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beiteinu party, had told the public broadcaster, Kan, that Netanyahu had unilaterally approved the transfer of weapons to the Abu Shabab clan. "The Israeli government is giving weapons to a group of criminals and felons, identified with the Islamic State group," Lieberman said. "To my knowledge, this did not go through approval by the cabinet," he added. Defence sources subsequently confirmed that Israel had been arming the Abu Shabab clan with Kalashnikov rifles, including some that had been seized from Hamas. The clan has been operating in Rafah, in an area under Israeli military control. However, Yasser Abu Shabab posted online to "categorically reject" that Israel had supplied his group's weapons. "Our weapons are simple, outdated and came through the support of our own people," he said. Hamas sources have said that Abu Shabab's activities have become an issue - with one report in an Arabic newspaper saying that the Hamas armed wing had begun carrying out assassinations of members of the clan. Netanyahu's office said that Israel "was working to defeat Hamas through various means, based on the recommendations of all the heads of the security establishment". Strong criticism of the initiative has come from Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats in the Knesset. In a social media post on X he said: "Netanyahu is a threat to Israel's national security. Instead of bringing about a the hostages home and providing security for Israeli citizens, he is creating a new ticking time-bomb in Gaza". Gaza now worse than hell on earth, humanitarian chief tells BBC US vetoes UN call for unconditional Gaza ceasefire UN calls for investigation into killings near Gaza aid distribution site
