Netanyahu and war in Gaza ‘hijacked by far right’: PM clinging on to power to evade corruption trial

Israel has planned to expand its military offensive in Gaza after seizing a new corridor as part of a broader effort to take large parts of the war-battered Palestinian territory. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24’s Jean-Emile Jammine welcomes Yossi Mekelberg, Associate Fellow in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme at Chatham House in London. Mr. Mekelberg insists that the Israeli PM is beholden to the far-right in his fight for his political life. “He needs to stay in power because of his corruption trial” and the only way to appease his extremist coalition is by keeping the war going. The far right has been very clear, in no uncertain terms, “telling him, ‘if you don’t continue the war in Gaza, we are leaving’.”