What’s the alternative to Netanyahu’s government?

How a new government, chosen democratically can affect negatively the independance of Israel?
It wll eventually happen, though better now than later. At some point Israel's policies and parties in power will change.

I think the alternative is a disaster for Israeli independence. I think the present set up is unworkable with criminals behaving as they are. Netanyahu is not going to step down willingly. Then there is the problem of all those who have been active participants in the brutality returning to civilian life and the cost of rebuilding lives and presumably paying for the distraction in Gaza. The shadow of the last two years will be felt for generations.

I do not really know anything about Israel's internal politics and who could be their next PM, but I wish for Israel to find a party which will stop arming groups in Gaza, for a start. How can Netanyahu survive being caught arming Gaza (via his "special" gangs), while bombing populated areas is beyond me. How is that Israel can send their young to fight in Gaza, while Israel's PM is giving weapons to gangs in Gaza and then go and say "What is wrong with that?"?. And nobody within Israel serms to be up in arms against this? There are many things to criticise negatively about Netanyahu and his government, but this, which is clearly the seed of future conflict, just under a different terrorist name, and it is happening under Israeli's noses. Yet Netanyahu stays. I really cannot get it.

It doesn’t directly answer OPs question but, in terms of explaining the mindset and views of Israelis, the fact that the country has compulsory military conscription is important.

(Except for the ultra-religious who are exempt from serving, but that’s a whole different thread…)

Everyone will have either served in the army, know people who have previously, or have friends and relatives currently conscripted. This will have a huge influence on how people will view issues of security, defence, etc.

Can you imagine the Israeli equivalent of Mumsnet if the parents of every 18 year old was about to send their child to serve 2 or 3 years in the army. What would the discussion be like if you knew your son or daughter could be deployed in Gaza? While also knowing that your country faces existential threats from surrounding hostile states and so having a strong military, including conscription, is the only option.

No they aren’t. There are many more vocal pro Palestinian people on these threads than pro Israel. If you don’t believe me, look at the thread titles. It’s very clear which side dominates these boards.

And what happens when any of us dares to push back is a pile on. You’ve been here long enough to know all this. Denying it doesn’t make it less real, the evidence is literally in writing for all to see.

No there wouldn't be 'no' posters, especially as I originally said pretty much, and not a conpletely no-go area. But Im sure you know as well as I do that there used to be lots of Jewish and Israeli posters who don't come here any more. Occasionally some pop back to explain.

I think very few were, or are "I'm for Israel,whatever they do" as you put it. The trouble is that is how its interpreted, particularly if you raise questions about the veracity of stories coming from sources that don't question the Hamas narrative, or you suggest that some empathy for the Israeli position might be helpful. Which is why some people just don't bother any more.

Simply not true. Nowhere near the majority of posts are in support of the Israeli government. I'd say there are very few. I am pro Israel but do not particularly support the government.

Yes, absolutely - like yesterday. And if you're not pushing for that, then honestly, I'm not sure what moral universe you're operating in

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/genocide-as-genesis/

What, then, is to be done? First, flood Gaza with aid—yes, flood. Hunger is Hamas’s currency; debase it. Israel should airdrop, convoy, and maritime‑deliver food until flour is cheaper than propaganda. Second, lock in a narrow buffer zone—no grand annexation fantasies—and trade it for the hostages. Insist that any post‑war authority be Arab‑funded, Egypt‑policed, and U.S‑guaranteed. If Hamas tries to rearm, the IDF should reserve the right to strike, à la the raid on Syria’s nuclear archive: in, out, mission accomplished.

Finally, Israel’s leaders must speak less of “total victory” and more of limited objectives clearly achieved. The objective is not to create a rubble‑free Gaza utopia—history says that dream is dust—but to ensure that no enclave on the Mediterranean plots the next Simchat‑Torah slaughter. Disarm Hamas enough to deter, empower Gazans enough to choose, and enlist the region to enforce.

The caution against giving murder a moral mandate is clear. The world now teeters on that precipice. Recognizing a state mid‑slaughter would weaponize victimhood and canonize atrocity as statecraft. For Israel—and for the decency of nations—the imperative is clear: starve the strategy, not the people, and refuse to let genocide become genesis.

Yes in spades like yesterday.

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/genocide-as-genesis/

What, then, is to be done? First, flood Gaza with aid—yes, flood. Hunger is Hamas’s currency; debase it. Israel should airdrop, convoy, and maritime‑deliver food until flour is cheaper than propaganda. Second, lock in a narrow buffer zone—no grand annexation fantasies—and trade it for the hostages. Insist that any post‑war authority be Arab‑funded, Egypt‑policed, and U.S‑guaranteed. If Hamas tries to rearm, the IDF should reserve the right to strike, à la the raid on Syria’s nuclear archive: in, out, mission accomplished.

Finally, Israel’s leaders must speak less of “total victory” and more of limited objectives clearly achieved. The objective is not to create a rubble‑free Gaza utopia—history says that dream is dust—but to ensure that no enclave on the Mediterranean plots the next Simchat‑Torah slaughter. Disarm Hamas enough to deter, empower Gazans enough to choose, and enlist the region to enforce.

The caution against giving murder a moral mandate is clear. The world now teeters on that precipice. Recognizing a state mid‑slaughter would weaponize victimhood and canonize atrocity as statecraft. For Israel—and for the decency of nations—the imperative is clear: starve the strategy, not the people, and refuse to let genocide become genesis.

Oh, and Andrew Fox who was previously quoted as a reliable pro-Israel source in another thread that's since been removed has reposted this. The instinct to cling to power, especially for those who have held it for decades and face serious jeopardy if they lose it, is as old as the hills. What surprises me is that anyone should be surprised by this.

A no go area? I see the opposite as true the majority of posts and posters are from people in support of Israeli government actions in Gaza. Most people are sick of trying to argue with such entrenched views and there is only so many times you can take getting dismissed as a Hamas supporter and antisemitic, it becomes pointless especially when the narrative being expressed by posters is pretty mainstream views.

Have you seen what happens when they push back?
Enlighten us? Push back happens on both sides.

Yes way back when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated, he was targeted by extremists who labeled him a traitor and even carried nooses in protest. Netanyahu played a key role in fueling this division, portraying Rabin as a traitor.

Netanyahu is an extremist figure, comparable to Trump, who through his divisive tactics including indirectly enabling groups like Hamas as part of a “divide and rule” strategy has put Israel in greater jeopardy than perhaps at any time since its founding. To make matters worse, his current government includes several individuals facing serious criminal charges, such as Netanyahu himself (facing corruption charges), Aryeh Deri (convicted of bribery), and other controversial figures, further undermining the country’s stability and democratic institutions. So yes, Netanyahu bears a lot of the blame for this, and the fact that he is more popular than ever in Israel only underscores the troubling direction of democratic dysfunction and a march to a highly militarised ethno-facist state.

Well, have you considered that he is, in fact, a genocidal psycopath and that's the real reason why he does the things he does?

Having made this place pretty much a no-go area for Israelis and Jewish people over the last year or so
There is absolutely no doubt that it has become a no go area. Have you not noticed how few people post here now? @SharonEllis

If it were a "no-go" area, then there wouldn't be any posts from Jewish people or Israel supporters, but there are both..... so "no-go" area is a falsehood.

Perhaps the reason for there being fewer people now than there were 18 months ago posting support for Israel's actions, is that those who once felt Israel's actions were justifiable no longer hold that view. Not everyone was "I'm for Israel,whatever they do" and they have, over time, modified their stance.

I didn't say you personally had made the place a no go area. I said 'you all' which means everybody. I was also responding to someone else, not you in my previous post.

There is absolutely no doubt that it has become a no go area. Have you not noticed how few people post here now? Have you listened when they express their views? Have you seen what happens when they push back?

Of course history is relevant. When Rabin was assassinated, if Shimon Peres had called a general election straightaway there would have been a landslide Labour victory, in sympathy with Rabin (assassinated by a right wing Jew, not an Arab). Instead, he waited, and this is how Netanyahu and his cronies got in.

Secondly, Ehud Barak offered the Palestinians the best offer they were ever likely to get, which was essentially a two state solution. Arafat refused, and talks broke down (that’s quite a simplistic explanation, but it would have involved settlers moving out of parts of the West Bank, notably Hebron and Kiryat Arab), largely over the status of Jerusalem, and the return of refugees (which would have skewed the ethnic balance of Israel).

Then we had the second intifada and we are where we are today.

I was responding to the person who thought that the fact that noone on MN had been able to answer the OP's question proved anything at all.

Having made this place pretty much a no-go area for Israelis and Jewish people over the last year or so you all expect them to pop on here and have a discussion about internal Israeli politics.
Amazing.

Stay out of it, and focus on the mounting problems in the UK.

Thanks @SomeWomanSomewhere
It has been portrayed that a few extremely right wing members are controlling the Knesset and Netanyahu’s government by threatening to dissolve the coalition, that these members are responsible for the worst of the decisions taken eg not allowing in sufficient aid to starving Gazans, not accepting ceasefire, and current talk expansion of military takeover of Gaza. All of which is also putting hostages at risk.

I was thinking why the rest of the government could not hold a vote of no confidence in Netanyahu - including members of the Likud party?

It doesn’t seem that the political mood is do anything different in Israel at present?

Oh, yes, we can agree on that. The Democrats did the optics very marginally better. But then: probably GWB would have, too. Trump is just uniquely bad at them.

In all fairness: the rhetoric may have been slightly less crass but it did happen under Biden. Who was not a real estate mogul and hence did not post any AI videos of "Biden Tower Gaza". But, on substance, there was not that much more pushback. Or any at all. He gave us Golda Meir nostalgia racism instead.

Kamala Harris tried to make "I'm speaking!" a #girlboss moment on multiple occasions during her short campaign by shouting down protesters. Trump would have won either way but: this (and sending Bill Clinton doing a Bible Study Class and Liy Cheney) may have cost them Michigan.

Much as I genuinely dislike Trump: this is a bipartisan atrocity!