Israeli govt clash looms as ultra-right reject Netanyahu joining Trump ‘peace’ board

A factional civil war is looming in the Israeli government after PM Benjamin Netanyahu u-turned to join Donald Trump’s colonial gangster ‘peace’ board to run occupied Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office had previously indicated he would not join because of unhappiness with some of its other likely members, particularly Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, the butcher of Gaza has now accepted Trump’s invitation.

Netanyahu headed for internal conflict

The decision will infuriate the ultra-right in Netanyahu’s cabinet, who want Gaza fully absorbed into the settler-colonial entity. In a speech before Netanyahu’s announcement, self-described fascist Bezalel Smotrich said that “there is no difference” between Erdoğan and late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Calling Israel’s partial 2005 disengagement from Gaza a “sin”, he went on to demand the removal of US facilities in Israel and the expulsion of all Gaza’s Palestinians into Egypt:

Erdogan is like Sinwar, and Qatar is Hamas, there is no difference…

It is time to dismantle the US headquarters in Kiryat Gat and expel Egypt from it, as it is hostile…

We must explain to Trump that his plan for Gaza is bad for Israel and cancel it…

We must open the Rafah Crossing with Egypt’s consent or against its will, and displace Gaza’s population…

We should set a short deadline to dismantle Hamas, then launch an assault on Gaza and destroy Hamas..

Smotrich’s fellow fascist settlers in the cabinet, like ‘security’ minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, are likely to back him. When they have previously threatened to revolt – over the fake ‘ceasefires’ in Gaza – Netanyahu has bribed them with brutal offensives in the West Bank. Faced with the loss of Gaza to Trump, Turkey and others – a bar on their crusade for a ‘Greater Israel’ – it is highly doubtful that they will be placated by a similar offer this time.

As extreme and criminal as Trump’s plan is, it is at odds with – and not extreme enough for – the ambitions of extremists like Smotrich and his fellow racists.

Featured image via the Canary