Upcoming general elections in Israel, scheduled for October, are likely to decide the legacy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces mounting pressure over his handling of regional wars and corruption charges.
Netanyahu reportedly convinced US President Donald Trump to join him in a war on Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to launch strikes on Israel, Gulf states, and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel is also embroiled in a war with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah to the north.
Netanyahu faces public anger over his failure to hold an independent inquiry into his government's failings before and after the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. He also faces multiple corruption charges dating back to 2019, which could land him in prison if convicted.
Political analyst Nimrod Flaschenberg told Al Jazeera: “It looks like [Netanyahu] might be in real trouble. The US agreement with Iran hasn’t been well received, and to the public, it’s really not clear what’s happening in Lebanon.”
Israel still illegally occupies around a fifth of Lebanon, and a framework agreement signed in Washington on Friday makes its future military presence uncertain. Polls suggest nearly 75% of Israelis support continued occupation of Lebanon.
Netanyahu's main political challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, blamed the US-Israel spat on Netanyahu's inability to articulate Israel's strategy in Lebanon. “We failed to capitalise on our military achievements and woke up to a security reality that must not be allowed,” he said.
Former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy noted: “Much of the opposition are outflanking him from the right with claims that they have their own magical military solutions. Netanyahu will play for time and actively work to undermine the deal between the US and Iran.”
Under the June 18 memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US, both sides commit to the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”. Despite this, Israel has refused to withdraw from Lebanon and continues attacks.
Political analyst Ori Goldberg said: “Netanyahu promised people living in northern Israel a future he couldn’t possibly deliver. People are tired, they’re craving some kind of normalcy. So, there may be room for Netanyahu to manoeuvre on Lebanon.”
According to media reports, Trump is growing tired of Netanyahu's actions, describing him as “crazy” in one phone call. On June 7, Trump told the Financial Times that Netanyahu must abide by Washington's ceasefire agreement with Iran, insisting, “I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots.”
Levy noted that Trump and Netanyahu have not met since February 28, 2026. “That’s going to worry Netanyahu. Right now, he’s probably angling for another meeting… he has to be thinking what he can do to win the US president back before the elections,” Levy said.
Source: www.aljazeera.com