by Gila Svirsky

Protest in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu on September 1, 2024. Photo: Omer Toledano, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Israel Defense Force Chief of Staff Zamir refuses to authorize Netanyahu’s plans to conquer and occupy Gaza (beyond the existing conquest and occupation). Bibi (Netanyahu) is furious.

Zamir was only recently appointed in March in the mistaken belief that he would be more compliant than Herzi Halevi, the previous guy, who also detested Bibi—though he ultimately obeyed him.

Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharov-Miara (the first woman in that position), also refuses to go along with Netanyahu’s anti-democratic orders. She issued legal opinions against Bibi’s attempts to grant the Knesset an override of the Supreme Court; she is investigating Bibi’s closest staff, having discovered that they are on the payroll of the Qatar government; several times she has refused to defend the government in the courts; and more. By law, Bibi cannot fire her, so what did he do? He changed the locks on her office. She moved to another room. She’s tough.

Seventy-four percent of Israelis—including 60% of those who voted for parties in the current coalition—support an agreement with Hamas that would release all the hostages at once in exchange for an end to the Gaza war. Recently there was an all-out, nationwide demonstration with this message. It will not change Bibi’s mind, but it may catalyze greater resentment against the current parties in the government.

A poll on July 25 shows that if an election were held on that date, the current parties in the coalition would collect only 40% of the vote (48 seats), while the parties currently in the opposition would win 60%.

It’s not a rainbow, but it’s small signs of defiance that will ultimately make change for the better.