How prolonging war helps Netanyahu cling to power and secure far-right support amid corruption scandals
– Amatur Rahman
Why isn’t Netanyahu stopping the war on Gaza or why does he keep breaking ceasefires? Netanyahu appears to be using war and the defiance of ceasefires as political tools to hold on to power, divert attention from corruption charges, and delay potential arrest. His refusal to end the war on Gaza has multiple motives: maintaining the image of a “strong leader” and using ongoing conflict to unify divided Israeli society under the guise of national security. Also, by prolonging the war, Netanyahu pushes forward his Greater Israel agenda under the guise of “security.”
Netanyahu’s Greater Israel vision
Netanyahu’s vision for a “Greater Israel” is no longer hidden, as his policies and actions increasingly reveal a clear agenda to expand Israeli control over Palestinian territories and beyond. He told i24 TV news that he is on “historic and spiritual mission” and that he is ‘very’ connected to the vision of Greater Israel. Also, in an interview with Fox New, Netanyahu was asked whether Israel would take over all of Gaza, he responded, “We intend to.” He also declared that Israel “must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River,” adding: “That collides with the idea of sovereignty. What can we do?”
The concept itself is not new, early Zionists, like Ze’ev Jabotinsky, forerunner of Netanyahu’s Likud party, used this phrase referring not only to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, but present day Jordan as well. Israel Settlement expansion and annexation plan of having control over West Bank appears to be moving forward, aiming to a large goal to drive Palestinians out and establish full Israeli authority. As it is reported, that land seizures continue across the West Bank and Jordan Valley, with 26,000 new settlement units and thousands of Palestinian lands confiscated. The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements called this an “accelerated annexation policy.”
Key role of Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir
Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right cabinet ministers both sanctioned by multiple countries, play a central role to Netanyahu’s coalition and ideological drive toward annexation. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, is a messianic settler born in the occupied Golan Heights in 1980 and now residing in the occupied West Bank. He has repeatedly called for Israeli settlers to return to Gaza and believes that Jews have a divine right to all lands that comprised biblical Israel. His personal and political life is deeply committed to expanding areas under Jewish Israeli control, both de facto and through legal annexation. In 2005, Smotrich was arrested by Shin Bet and questioned for weeks over protests against Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, suspected of planning to block roads and damage infrastructure, though no charges were brought. He later founded an influential right-wing NGO focused on controlling occupied land and won his first parliamentary seat in 2015. The Israeli army’s Civil Administration transferred control of parts of the West Bank to Bezalel Smotrich advocating annexation.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s security minister, embraced extremism at such a young age that Israel’s domestic security forces barred him from serving in the army as a teenager. For years, his living room displayed a portrait of Baruch Goldstein, the mass murderer who killed 29 Palestinians in a Hebron mosque in 1994. Having spent much of his life on Israel’s political fringe, Ben-Gvir was appointed to the security portfolio upon joining Netanyahu’s government, giving him authority over the police forces that once arrested him and the prisons where he was once held.
Smotrich’s control over parts of the West Bank and Ben-Gvir’s authority over security forces have speeded settlement expansion, annexation, and stricter control over Palestinian areas, pushing greater Israel agenda.
By this strategy, Netanyahu secure support from far-right allies like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir; avoiding a political collapse that could lead to his prosecution. But his strategy seems to be collapsing under growing international condemnation. Vance criticised Israel’s parliament vote on West Bank annexation, stating that “the policy of President Trump is that the West Bank will not be annexed.” President Donald Trump himself condemned annexation of West Bank and has stated that Israel would risk losing U.S. support if it proceeds with the annexation. Annexation of West Bank could isolate Israel internationally and damage ties with key ally United States.
Recently, Bezalel Smotrich urged Israelis who support annexation to start a campaign to influence people and leaders in the U.S. to back the idea. An attempt to justify Israel’s illegal expansion.
In addition to the annexation activities in the West Bank, Israel is also extending its actions into Lebanon, with air and drone strikes and partial occupation of territory contributing to civilian displacement and disruption of essential services. The UN experts reported 108 civilian casualties and the displacement of 80,000 people in Lebanon despite ceasefire agreement. They said, “Israel’s repeated strikes and partial occupation of territory in Lebanon have made schools, health centres, and places of worship inaccessible, hindering the restoration of essential civilian life and services.”
The expansion doesn’t stop there, Israel has extended its illegal occupation into Syria, taking control of parts of the Golan Heights and seizing sections of the UN-monitored buffer zone, in clear violation of the 1974 agreement with Damascus, which led to displacing families, demolishing homes, and illegally transferring detainees to Israel in acts of war crimes.
Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces will stay in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria, claiming to maintain security zones along the borders. It could result in long term then permanent control over these areas. These external occupations appear to serve a deeper purpose, not only to divert attention from Israel’s internal political damage but also to advance Netanyahu’s long-standing vision of a “Greater Israel.”
Netanyahu’s attempt to use war as a political survival is only isolating him further both domestically and internationally.
Global Opinion Against Netanyahu and Israel, Pew Survey Finds (2025)
A 2025 Pew Research Centre survey across 24 countries revealed that global sentiment toward both Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has grown increasingly negative. In 20 nations, roughly half or more respondents viewed Israel unfavourably, with particularly strong disapproval in Australia, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Türkiye. Overall, negative perceptions of Israel have increased compared to previous years, especially among younger adults. In most countries trust in Netanyahu was even lower than views of Israel itself. Even within Israel, concern over the nation’s global image, with nearly six in ten Israelis believing their country lacks international respect.
Moreover, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024. Soon after announcement, several countries have expressed commitment to comply with the ICC arrest warrants. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, stated that the ICC arrest warrants are legally binding for all EU member states. Italy, the Netherlands, France, the UK, Canada, and Jordan also reaffirmed their commitment to respect for ICC rulings. Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, praised the move as a “historic breakthrough for justice.”
A number of countries have expressed both political backing and a willingness to comply with the ICC’s arrest warrants. These include Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Maldives, Namibia, Palestine, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, and Türkiye as well as members of the “Hague Group”. The UN’s highest court has declared that Israel is violating international law by maintaining its occupation of Palestinian territories in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It ordered Israel to withdraw all settlers without delay, stop any further settlement expansion, and provide reparations to the Palestinian people. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said, states must adhere to obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent further loss of life in Gaza. Such widespread support reflects Israel’s growing isolation, as more nations come together to denounce its ongoing violations and demand accountability.
Additionally, United Nations experts, human rights groups including leading genocide scholars and two Israeli human rights groups have said that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Domestic dissent as well as damaged to its global reputation and diplomatic ties leading to international disapproval of Netanyahu and Israel. France has officially recognised Palestinian statehood, while the UK, Canada, and Germany are also hinting in the same direction. Spain and Sweden have urged the suspension of the EU’s trade agreement with Israel, and the Netherlands has gone further, describing Israel as a “security threat.”
Moreover, Israel’s traditional allies have also criticised Netanyahu’s actions in Gaza. Prominent Israeli figures, including former prime ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, have openly condemned his policies. In addition, hundreds of retired Israeli security officials have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure Netanyahu to bring the war to an end, it highlights growing internal dissent even among its long-time supporters. Recent polls in Israel indicate that 74% of Israelis, including 60% of voters in Netanyahu’s own coalition, support a deal to end the war if it ensures the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
Alongside, Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three separate cases, which involve allegations of accepting gifts, manipulating the media, and granting regulatory favours. By extending war, Netanyahu keeps public focus on “external threats” diverting attention from his ongoing corruption trials. Ending the war would strengthen Netanyahu’s opponents, expose his government’s failures, and likely result in a loss of power. This also weakened Netanyahu’s government. The withdrawal of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, followed by United Torah Judaism (UTJ), over failure to secure future exemptions from military conscription for religious students. Their exit has turned Netanyahu’s government into a minority, weakening its authority at home while further isolating Israel on the global stage.
Netanyahu seems to be keeping the war continue mainly to stay in power. By focusing on fighting, he distracts people from his corruption cases and political troubles while pushing towards his Greater Israel plan. However, his strategy damaged Israel’s image, isolated Israel globally, damaging its reputation. Israel is trying to dominate the Middle East by weakening nearby countries and resistance groups that stand against its expansion plans. It targets governments like Syria and groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis. The peace plan is actually a way to control the area without directly occupying it. By calling it “demilitarisation,” Israel aims to remove Hamas and other fighting groups and replace them with international forces, which would make it easier for Israel to control Gaza’s future. These continued attempts reflect broader expansion agenda.
