Experts agreed that the Histadrut’s call for a general strike, to pressure the occupation government following the killing of 6 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, is considered an important development in the Israeli society’s position towards the war, with the disintegration of the previous consensus.
Israeli affairs expert Dr. Muhannad Mustafa said that there is a noticeable shift in the Israeli society’s position towards the war. He added, “The consensus that existed around this war is beginning to disintegrate, and there is a deep division within Israeli society.” He pointed out that this shift could lead to “old differences coming to the surface, such as the divisions between the right and the left.”
Mustafa pointed out – during the program “Gaza… What’s Next?” – to the great division that has begun to appear within Israeli society regarding its position on this war and its goals, indicating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to prolong the war until the US elections, despite his failure to resolve all the pending issues surrounding him, such as the Gaza war, the northern front, and the prisoners’ file.
Political science professor Dr. Hassan Ayoub agreed with Mustafa, saying, “Israeli society has begun to realize that the continuation of the aggression on Gaza has no moral basis.” He added that Israel is going through an unprecedented state of uncertainty, noting that this crisis “has proven the fragility of some of the main components on which the state and the Zionist movement were built.”
Populist statements
Mustafa explains the importance of the Histadrut, saying: “The union is responsible for most workers and employees in the Israeli public sector, including government companies, local councils and municipalities.” He added that a general strike means “a complete paralysis of the Israeli economy, including public transportation and daily services.”
He pointed out that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s threat to striking workers to deduct their salaries is nothing more than a populist statement, explaining that he tried to appear as a hero to his voters and went further when he described the head of the Histadrut union as a supporter of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Ayoub believes that “the strike of the union, which is considered one of the pillars on which the Zionist state was built, may affect the course of the negotiations,” noting that “the resistance still has a strong card in the negotiations, which is the remaining living prisoners.”
Mustafa points out that “the US administration may find in these protests a renewed opportunity to exert more pressure on the Israeli government.”
He added that the Israeli government’s decision to remain in the Rafah axis may have political and ideological goals more than security and military ones, and said: “The security and military establishment confirms that Israel does not need to control this area to preserve its security interests.”
Resistance position
In light of these developments, it seems that there are multiple factors that may affect the course of events in the near future. Mustafa summarizes these factors in 3 main points: the increasing pressure on the Israeli government due to the prisoners’ issue, the increasing criticism within the military and security establishment, in addition to international pressure, especially from the United States.
Regarding the position of the Palestinian resistance, Ayoub believes that it still has strong cards in the negotiations. Despite the loss of 6 prisoners, the presence of living prisoners still constitutes a strong pressure card, and the continuation of operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank places additional pressure on the Israeli government.
On the American front, Ayoub believes that the US administration may find itself in a difficult position. On the one hand, there is internal pressure on it to reduce its support for Israel, especially with the approach of the US elections, and on the other hand, it does not want to exert strong pressure on Israel due to its internal calculations.
Ayoub pointed out that the current situation is “unsustainable,” noting that the US administration may have to return to the role of mediator and exert pressure on a permanent basis to reach some kind of agreement or ceasefire.