US intelligence report: Netanyahu’s leadership ‘in jeopardy’

Mar 12

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

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U.S. intelligence’s latest global threat assessment indicates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s grip on power is weakening, with figures like CIA Director William Burns highlighting a decline in Netanyahu’s support. The assessment suggests Netanyahu’s leadership and his coalition, comprising far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties with stringent positions on Palestinian and security issues, are “in jeopardy.”

רוב הישראלים תומכים במדיניות שאני מוביל. הרוב המכריע מאוחד כפי שלא היה מעולם. pic.twitter.com/o33WQqfJ3V
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 10, 2024

Intelligence officials have pointed to Netanyahu’s tough security stance and his hesitation to engage in peace talks with Hamas as major factors eroding public confidence.

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Discontent manifested in January when thousands in Tel Aviv protested, calling for Netanyahu’s resignation. Despite these protests and discussions of a unity government excluding him, Netanyahu is trying to secure a decisive victory over Hamas — a goal that the report suggests will be challenging.

In an annual threat assessment, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence notes that Israel is likely to face ongoing armed resistance from Hamas, with the Israeli military struggling to neutralize Hamas’s underground infrastructure.

Adding to Netanyahu’s challenges are pressures from within his own political circle, including Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet and chairman of the National Unity Party, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, both significant political rivals. Current polls suggest Gantz could surpass Netanyahu if elections were held now.

This internal conflict occurs as Netanyahu faces disagreements with the U.S., particularly regarding his approach to Gaza, such as the proposed attack on Rafah, which President Joe Biden has cautioned against.

Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, William Burns

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE LATEST GLOBAL THREAT ASSESSMENT FROM U.S. INTELLIGENCE PUTS PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IN A TOUGH SPOT. HIGH-PROFILE U.S. OFFICIALS LIKE CIA DIRECTOR WILLIAM BURNS SAY NETANYAHU’S SUPPORT IS SLIPPING, AND HIS HOLD ON THE PRIME MINISTER POST “MAY BE IN JEOPARDY.”

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, NETANYAHU’S POSITION AS LEADER AND HIS COALITION’S FUTURE, MADE UP OF FAR-RIGHT AND ULTRA-ORTHODOX PARTIES THAT HAVE TAKEN A TOUGH STANCE ON PALESTINIAN AND SECURITY ISSUES, COULD BE AT RISK

NETANYAHU’S HARD STANCE ON SECURITY AND RELUCTANCE FOR PEACE TALKS WITH HAMAS HAVE LED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE LOSING TRUST IN HIM, INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS SAID. THIS JANUARY, THOUSANDS HIT THE STREETS OF TEL AVIV, CALLING FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN. DESPITE THESE PROTESTS AND TALKS OF A UNITY GOVERNMENT WITHOUT HIM, NETANYAHU IS HANGING ON, HOPING TO TURN THINGS AROUND WITH A DECISIVE WIN OVER HAMAS —SOMETHING THE REPORT SHOWS COULD BE HARD TO DO.

“ISRAEL PROBABLY WILL FACE LINGERING ARMED RESISTANCE FROM HAMAS FOR YEARS TO COME, AND THE MILITARY WILL STRUGGLE TO NEUTRALIZE HAMAS’S UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH ALLOWS INSURGENTS TO HIDE, REGAIN STRENGTH, AND SURPRISE ISRAELI FORCES.”

HE’S ALSO DEALING WITH PRESSURES FROM HIS OWN TEAM, INCLUDING BENNY GANTZ, A MEMBER OF ISRAEL’S WAR CABINET AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY, AND DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT, BOTH OF WHOM ARE MAJOR POLITICAL RIVALS OF NETANYAHU. POLLS ARE SHOWING GANTZ COULD BEAT NETANYAHU IF AN ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY.

THIS INTERNAL RIVALRY COMES AT A TIME WHEN NETANYAHU’S ALSO CLASHING WITH THE U.S., ESPECIALLY OVER HOW HE’S HANDLING GAZA, LIKE THE PROPOSED ATTACK ON RAFAH THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS WARNED AGAINST.