Middle East & Africa | The Israel-Hamas war

The revolt against Binyamin Netanyahu

His war cabinet and generals want a new plan—and a new boss

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Who is coming for him next?Photograph: AFP
|Jerusalem

FOR MONTHS generals and ministers in Israel have been warning from behind the scenes that the government of Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, lacks a coherent strategy for the war in Gaza and its aftermath. Now at last these bitter arguments are breaking into the open. Israel’s war cabinet and security establishment are drawing ever closer to an open revolt against Mr Netanyahu, and are clear they want a sharp change of direction or new government. The shift comes as the prime minister faces the threat of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (icc). Meanwhile Jake Sullivan, America’s national security adviser, landed in Israel on May 19th. He had just been in Saudi Arabia, where he was finalising a blockbuster security deal with the kingdom that includes proposals for remaking how Palestinians are ruled.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “The revolt against Bibi”

Cash for kids: Why policies to boost birth rates don’t work

From the May 25th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Middle East & Africa

Hamas’s pick of Yahya Sinwar as leader makes a ceasefire less likely

The appointment of the architect of October 7th ties the group closer to Iran

The Middle East braces for wider war as Iran weighs its response

After Israeli strikes, America is rushing troops to the region and airlines are steering clear


Ethiopia is in the midst of a kidnapping epidemic

As the government hails a new IMF deal, lawlessness is spreading


Somaliland’s camel herders are milking it

Commercial dairies are scaling up an old trade

Will Hamas turn from war to politics?

The assassination of its political leader poses a string of dilemmas

Israeli strikes on Beirut and Tehran could intensify a regional war

At the very least, they will delay talks over a ceasefire in Gaza