Netanyahu faces a political crisis over the Gaza ceasefire deal

Mr. Ben-Gvir has proven to be an unreliable and troublesome partner. He demanded a pay rise for police, refused to support the government in passing key legislation last month, forced Mr Netanyahu to leave his hospital bed as he recovered from prostate surgery and voted in assembly to ensure that the law is passed. .

Mr. Netanyahu has recently held frequent and lengthy meetings with Mr. Smotrich to persuade him to stay in the coalition. After three hours of talks between Mr Smotrich and his party’s lawmakers on Thursday, the party issued an ultimatum demanding a promise from Mr Netanyahu that he would resume fighting Hamas immediately after the ceasefire. the first six-week war as a condition for Mr. Remains in the government. Smotrich.

Mr. Netanyahu, meanwhile, blocked a cabinet call for a vote to ratify the deal, citing last-minute disputes with Hamas over details.

Mr. Netanyahu is fighting corruption charges in a lengthy trial and risks a public reckoning after the war ends for military and political failures in the face of a 2023 Hamas attack. – some analysts believe that he will choose to break the second phase of the agreement, if Hamas does not do it first, in order to maintain the coalition.

“Netanyahu wants to stay in power,” said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “It makes no sense for him to go to the polls because he might not win.” He wants two more years to lead the government.”

Mr. Netanyahu could still make a deal with Mr. Smotrich. Although the finance minister joins Mr. Ben-Gvir in leaving the coalition, Mr. Netanyahu can, at least, remain the head of a minority government. Opposition leaders said they would provide Mr. Netanyahu with a political net for peace.

In any case, the government may survive until the end of the first phase of the agreement, said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a non-partisan research group in Jerusalem.

But Mr Netanyahu may have to decide between his parliamentary majority and his relationship with the incoming administration in Washington, with Mr Trump and Saudi Arabia perhaps offering him a chance to burnish his legacy. .

“I think his mind is already on the next big move,” Mr. Plesner said of Mr. Netanyahu, adding: “If you have to choose between a close relationship with the Trump administration and Smotrich and Ben -Gvir, he will vote for Trump.”

US and Israeli officials say the deal reached this week is very similar to the proposal outlined by President Biden last May.