WAHINGTON: A new US intelligence assessment released on Monday raised doubts about whether PM Benjamin Netanyahu could stay in power, as the CIA director said a hostage deal was the most practical way to halt, at least temporarily, the war in the Gaza Strip. The 2024 annual threat Assessment expressed concerns about Israel’s vision for the end of the war and said that Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition “may be in jeopardy”.
“Distrust of Netanyahu’s ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect protests demanding his resignation and new elections,” the report said.”A different, more moderate govt is a possibility.”
The report predicted that Israel would struggle to achieve its goal of “destroying Hamas.” “Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from Hamas for years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralise Hamas’s underground infrastructure, which allows insurgents to hide, regain strength and surprise Israeli forces,” the report said.
Tensions between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu have flared in recent days over Israel’s planned military operations in Rafah. But the intelligence report, prepared over months, was written before the most recent tensions. CIA director William Burns returned Saturday from his eighth overseas trip to negotiate the release of hostages. US officials had hoped to secure a deal by the beginning of Ramzan, but that deadline passed. NYT
“Distrust of Netanyahu’s ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect protests demanding his resignation and new elections,” the report said.”A different, more moderate govt is a possibility.”
The report predicted that Israel would struggle to achieve its goal of “destroying Hamas.” “Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from Hamas for years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralise Hamas’s underground infrastructure, which allows insurgents to hide, regain strength and surprise Israeli forces,” the report said.
Tensions between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu have flared in recent days over Israel’s planned military operations in Rafah. But the intelligence report, prepared over months, was written before the most recent tensions. CIA director William Burns returned Saturday from his eighth overseas trip to negotiate the release of hostages. US officials had hoped to secure a deal by the beginning of Ramzan, but that deadline passed. NYT
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