Former Justice Minister Yossi Beilin says while Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to dismiss popular unrest on the streets of Israel, he’s actually taking “very serious consideration” when assessing his decisions on the Gaza war. Protests are “the main pressure on Netanyahu in Israel”, Beilin told Al Jazeera, noting it was mass demonstrations that halted Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul in 2023. Protesters have accused the prime minister of continuing the war in Gaza for political reasons while ignoring the plight of the captives still held by Hamas. Netanyahu is also facing trial on charges of corruption. In addition, the cabinet prompted mass protests by approving the removal of Shin Bet’s chief and approving a no-confidence motion against the attorney general – two figures seen as the gatekeepers of Israel’s democracy.
