‘We want new elections now’

• Nasrah Habiballah

  Correspondent Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Today is the last day of a four-day demonstration in Jerusalem. Close to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, hundreds of demonstrators have camped in tents in recent days. It almost looks like a festival site. In addition to speakers, there are music performances, posters with political statements hang everywhere, and the overnight demonstrators can get food and drinks in special tents.

But the joy of a festival is certainly not there. People are frustrated and angry with the government. They want elections to be held as soon as possible and Prime Minister Netanyahu to leave.

When the war started, there was already dissatisfaction with the prime minister. But then there was the feeling that unity was the most important thing, and that it was not the time for demonstrations against the government.

Those days are over, says Ami Dror, one of the organizers of the protest in Jerusalem: “A change is happening. The Israeli people are slowly moving away from their wait-and-see attitude to the view that they want a different government as soon as possible.”

In recent days, tens of thousands of people have attended the demonstration, which has become the largest anti-government protest since the start of the war. “This government no longer represents the Israeli people, they are so far away from us,” Dror said.

The demonstrators believe that Netanyahu is deliberately prolonging the war and blocking a deal with Hamas to remain in power. They blame him for putting his own interests above those of the people.

Political analyst Aviv Bushinsky, who was Netanyahu’s political assistant for many years, also thinks that the prime minister is not looking for a deal with Hamas: “Hamas wants an end to the war as part of the deal, but that is something Netanyahu does not agree to.” will agree. Because above all he wants to destroy Hamas. And he knows that if he does not succeed, the right-wing voters will punish him for it. He will then lose the support of the right, but these are precisely the voters who are now putting him on the have held power.”

Yet many protesters also say they want to defeat Hamas and win the war. Only they have no confidence that Netanyahu is the man who will bring the war to a successful conclusion.

“I want new elections as soon as possible,” says Ilana Kaminka. Her son was in the army and was killed by Hamas on October 7. She carries a flag with his photo on it. “We need leaders who can give us hope. Who present a vision. Leaders who understand how to unite a society. Not people who tear our society apart as they have done from day one.”

Netanyahu doesn’t want to know anything about elections. He keeps repeating that victory is in sight and that this is not the time for elections.

And the fact that such a victory would be achieved under his leadership is crucial for his political survival, says Bushinsky: “Let’s say that Netanyahu achieves the ultimate victory. Then he could say that he was indeed responsible for the lack of preparedness on October 7. But that he fought himself back. And he kept his promises.”

The demonstrators no longer want to wait for that, says a demonstrator who is staying the night in the tent camp. “We are all here to make it clear to Netanyahu that he must leave, we don’t want him anymore. He may not listen to us, but we will continue to convey that message.”