Although Israeli leaders, particularly Benjamin Netanyahu, have sought to portray the alleged US agreement on negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli regime as a political achievement to bolster his grip on power, the crisis of legitimacy and intensifying protests against him have become so severe that he has rapidly moved to accommodate Haredi demands.
Netanyahu, who has long viewed war, occupation, and military aggression as the key to political survival, suffered such a setback during the Ramadan War that even media outlets aligned with Israel's ruling establishment have been forced to acknowledge the failure. One consequence has been an apparent, though largely cosmetic, shift in the White House's position toward the regime. Even figures such as Trump and Vance, who had championed an "Israel First" approach, have turned to criticizing Netanyahu.
Manufacturing Success Amid Strategic Failure
Since Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed new achievements in Palestine and across the region. Yet, by the admission of Israeli media, these military campaigns have already cost the regime $205 billion without delivering security. Not only have Israel's declared objectives gone unmet, but the regime has also faced unprecedented international isolation, with even its European and American allies, under growing public pressure, criticizing Israel and imposing certain sanctions and restrictions.
A Crisis of Legitimacy: From Streets to Likud
Netanyahu's political predicament has become so severe that anti-government slogans interrupted his speech at a military graduation ceremony in the occupied territories' south, with participants calling for his resignation.
Meanwhile, Likud itself is facing internal turmoil. The central dispute concerns Netanyahu's proposal to reserve 10 appointed seats for himself, while rival proposals call for preserving regional representation and adopting digital voting. If no agreement is reached by Sunday, both proposals may be put to a secret ballot, a scenario that deeply concerns Netanyahu and his allies given the possibility of defeat in an uncontrollable vote.
Opinion polls show that 59% of residents of the occupied territories want Netanyahu to step down and not contest the next election. This suggests that despite his claims that military campaigns from Gaza to Iran were successful, he has failed to achieve the results he promised. Even extensive Western military support has not brought security to the regime, while taking shelter has become a routine part of daily life in the occupied territories.
Regional Dynamics: Failure of Resistance Elimination Project
The Resistance Front that Netanyahu claimed he would eliminate has not only survived but has become a decisive force shaping the region's future. Hezbollah's resilience has undermined Israel's plans in southern Lebanon and the occupied territories' north, while Trump, who once vowed to destroy Iran, ultimately accepted an agreement based on Iran's terms.
Iran's strength has remained evident both militarily and diplomatically, as well as in responding to even the smallest threats. Contrary to Trump's claims, Iran continues to exercise effective management over the Strait of Hormuz, while the purported alternative routes have proven insecure and impractical
Under Iranian pressure, the US has also been compelled to prioritize restraining the Israeli regime's actions toward Lebanon. Even the reported US-mediated agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv cannot separate Lebanon from the 14-point agreement.
Concessions to Haredim: Netanyahu's Last Political Lifeline
Netanyahu's recent conduct reflects political paralysis at home and mounting crises abroad. Having failed to secure his political future through military escalation, he is now making concessions to factions he had previously marginalized. Those same groups are now exploiting his weakened position to extract significant demands.
This is most clearly reflected in his concessions to the Haredi parties. Facing pressure from other political factions and Israeli society over military conscription for Haredim, Netanyahu has reluctantly entered negotiations with them, offering sweeping concessions in exchange for preventing the Knesset's early dissolution and postponing elections.
Aryeh Deri, leader of the Shas party, and Moshe Gafni, head of Degel HaTorah, announced in a joint statement that they had conveyed an "unequivocal demand" from Haredi religious authorities to Netanyahu, calling for immediate legislation of the laws they seek. They warned that unless concrete action is taken within days, they will support dissolving the Knesset next week.
The Haredi parties' leverage, and Netanyahu's willingness to yield, has reached the point where, following their fierce protests over military service, figures such as Avigdor Lieberman have accused Netanyahu of granting concessions that could push the regime toward civil conflict simply to remain in power.
Fragile Survival and Accelerating Internal Decline
Many political observers argue that while Netanyahu hopes to preserve his rule through concessions to the Haredim, the move itself reflects failure on two fronts. First, after previously claiming he would confront these factions, his retreat demonstrates that his strategy of securing power through war and occupation has collapsed, with the enormous costs of prolonged conflicts and growing international isolation forcing him into retreat.
Second, Netanyahu's reliance on extremist factions is likely to deepen internal divisions, intensify social and cultural tensions, and spread instability into the economic, political, and security spheres. This trajectory is unlikely to stop even if he remains in power and will instead accelerate the regime's irreversible internal decline.
NOURNEWS