Israel-Hamas war and Israeli domestic politics

Abstract

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing intensive domestic pressure as his political opponents and public opinion in the country coalesced against his plan to change legal and judicial provisions and to stay in power. Hamas’ surprise multi-prong attack on 7 October erupted so suddenly and violently as to give him another reason for dismay. But as the United States and Western countries rally around him, and as the Jewish state’s attention focuses on destroying Hamas, Netanyahu is getting a respite from the internal political challenges he faces and may remain in leadership position longer than earlier expected.