by Gila Svirsky
First Hamas said it was breaking the hostage ceasefire deal because of Israel’s violations of it—mainly not allowing sufficient aid into Gaza. Then Hamas backtracked, declaring that it just wants to ensure full Israeli compliance with the deal. It has been clear from the outset that Hamas has a stronger desire for the deal than Bibi (Netanyahu) has.
WHY BIBI DOESN’T WANT THE DEAL
Demonstration calling for ceasefire in Gaza. Photo: Monash University, CC BY 3.0 NZ
Hamas wants a deal so it can get its VIP prisoners out of jail. Bibi doesn’t want a deal because it might end the war, which would have bad repercussions for him. Ending the war would mean: (1) a state commission of inquiry would be established to determine who was guilty of Israel not being prepared for the Hamas attack on Oct. 7—and that would point a big finger at Bibi as a prime villain; (2) if the conflict ends while Hamas still controls Gaza, which it currently does (and will for the conceivable future), Bibi will have not made good on his vow to “eradicate” Hamas; and (3) Bibi’s trial on corruption charges will be expedited.
Bibi finds every excuse not to show up in court for his trial. Here are some he used over the last few weeks: his prostate surgery; his post-prostate surgery rehab; his need to fly to the U.S. to see Trump; his need to spend the weekend at glittering restaurants with his wife (who has been in Miami for two months and is reportedly now seeking a piece of property to buy there; their son, in his 20s, of combat duty age, has been in Miami since the war erupted); his taking antibiotics for some unannounced reason and that requires more bed rest; a no-confidence vote in the Knesset (which gave the opposition a big stage on which to sling well-deserved mud at him); and today’s excuse—his need to discuss the new Hamas threat to end the deal. There were undoubtedly other excuses, but I can’t bother to keep track.
While Bibi and Trump have some similarities, there is really no comparison. Trump is a bully, has a large, supportive base, openly intimidates his opponents, and is willing to defy court orders. Bibi, on the other hand, works by sly manipulation, hiding his motives, his coalition resting upon two small factions that keep him in power (the ultra-Orthodox and the extreme right). Above all, Bibi is vulnerable to court decisions. That’s why his government continues to work so hard to undermine the judiciary.
The courts can be Bibi’s nemesis. Don’t forget that, unlike the bullet-proof immunity vest that Trump recently won from the Supremes, Israel has imprisoned a former president, former prime minister, and former ministers of finance and the interior, each for his own nefarious crime. Bibi is next. The sooner the better.
On March 18, 2025, Gila Svirsky wrote on facebook: There have been some vocal refuseniks in Israel, including a few high status ones–one general, one air force navigator, another I can’t remember–but above all, there is a kind of silent refusal. Only about 50% of the reservists who have recently been drafted have actually shown up for duty! This is astonishing, and many news commentators have been talking about it. They believe that the motivations for not returning to their units are anger at re-starting the war, financial issues because they are not showing up for work or businesses, and family angst about their loved ones AGAIN going off into the danger zone. The more this reaches the news, the more other soldiers are encouraged not to show up.