Seb Asher
Appearances
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
I mean, in one sense, you could almost say he's not breaking ranks, that this is expected. I mean, Itamar Ben-Gavir, the national security minister, with the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, they're both very much to the right in the coalition. They have both expressed... very strong views about any deal in the past. And they have in the lead up to this deal as well.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
Essentially, they want to hold them as supporters, want to hold the Israeli government to what Benjamin Netanyahu has promised time and time again, which is essentially that his goal is the total elimination, the total destruction of Hamas. And they feel that this deal doesn't do that.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
and that Israel must have the right again, as Mr Netanyahu said time and time again, and it's been a big stumbling block in getting a deal, that Israel must, after any ceasefire, have the ability, if it needs to for security reasons, to go back into Gaza and carry out military operations against what's left of Hamas.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
That's difficult. I mean, I think the general view would be that the deal will still go ahead. Certainly in the cabinet, Netanyahu will have the votes. He had six centrist members of a party join the coalition quite recently, and that has strengthened his position. Whereas before, what Ben-Gavir and Smotrich might do might bring down the government immediately, that isn't the case at the moment.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
Other parties have in the past also said that they would join the coalition to ensure that the government didn't collapse if a deal was at stake. So I don't think it will stop the deal in itself, but we're still unsure. I mean, we have to wait and see what happens in the coming hours with regard to the cabinet meeting that's due to be convened.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
I mean, we've heard that the issues that were raised apparently have been sorted. But who knows? But I don't think this in itself is the thing that will stop the deal going through.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
I mean, there's no doubt about that. It underlines the different waves of feeling within Israel that there are, but are very much in contradiction to each other. I mean, if you go back before October the 7th, Mr Netanyahu was facing a sort of civil uprising almost in huge protests every week over plans that he had to change the standing of the judiciary.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
And that was very much with the backing of Ben-Gavir. of Smotrich, who wanted to defang what they saw as the powers of a sort of liberal elite in Israel. I mean, if Ben-Gavir and also Smotrich's party, if they both stand by the threats they've made, that if the deal goes through, they will withdraw from a cabinet. As I say, I don't think that will bring Mr Netanyahu down immediately.
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
I think he has the votes, but also other parties might join to keep him going. But it does weaken his position further. Other thing, just very briefly, it might give the centrist elements within the cabinet and within Israel more of a say. It might mean that those more extreme voices, because they're no longer in government, if they do follow through on their threat,
Global News Podcast
Israel delays vote to approve Gaza ceasefire deal
won't have as much say in what happens over the coming months, which might have an effect on the way the ceasefire goes and the phases of this deal.