Anti-Netanyahu Protests Fizzle in Israel
- Protests against Netanyahu surged after Hamas murdered six hostages, with hundreds of thousands participating initially.
- A call for a general strike was quickly deemed illegal by the courts, leading to a rapid decline in protest activities.
- Despite initial opposition, Netanyahu's communication efforts shifted public opinion, resulting in continued support for his policies.
Massive protests erupted in Israel following the murder of six hostages by Hamas, with hundreds of thousands participating in demonstrations on Sunday and Monday. However, by the end of the week, these protests diminished significantly, although smaller weekly protests are expected to continue. The labor union federation's call for a general strike was quickly thwarted by a court ruling deeming it illegal, leading to a swift end to the strike efforts. Criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged from some hostage families and left-wing activists, who blamed him for the failure to secure a hostage deal. Despite these claims, Netanyahu had accepted terms proposed by the Biden administration. Conservative writer Caroline Glick noted that Netanyahu's two press conferences, conducted in Hebrew and English, played a crucial role in shifting public opinion in his favor. Polling data indicated that a significant majority of Israelis supported Netanyahu's approach to the ongoing conflict and negotiations, with only about 30% agreeing with President Biden's assertion that Netanyahu was the main obstacle to a hostage deal. Glick emphasized that Netanyahu's communication strategy effectively convinced many who initially opposed him to align with his stance. The protests' decline reflects a complex interplay of public sentiment, political messaging, and legal challenges, suggesting that while dissent exists, a substantial portion of the population remains supportive of Netanyahu's policies during this crisis.