Israeli Right-Wing Frustrated Despite Achieving Radical Goals

Despite enacting policies previously considered extreme, including significant displacement of Palestinians and expansion of settlements, a sense of frustration and division persists within Israel's right-wing political bloc. Parties like Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism, and Ofer Vinter's party, collectively polling around 20 seats, advocate for more aggressive actions, such as the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, and the destruction of villages from which attacks originate. Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calls for a "voluntary emigration" plan and a change in IDF open-fire regulations, which he expects to oversee as the next Defense Minister. Bezalel Smotrich, while currently less focused on occupying Gaza, aims to replicate the West Bank settlement model in the Galilee, displacing Palestinians. Even within the Likud, Defense Minister Israel Katz echoes the expulsion rhetoric, threatening to expel a million Gazans if a soldier or citizen is captured.

The article argues that the current right-wing government, particularly since the October 7th Hamas attack, has exploited the situation to advance its agenda, which includes ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the purging of liberal elements within Israel. The author contends that the government has effectively implemented a "second Nakba" in Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction and displacement, and that the idea of Palestinian "voluntary emigration" has become a national consensus. In the West Bank, Smotrich has overseen the establishment of new settlements and the expulsion of Palestinian communities, while Ben-Gvir has reportedly intensified harsh conditions in prisons.

Despite these perceived successes in advancing a radical agenda, a significant frustration exists within the right-wing. This is partly attributed to the failure to achieve "absolute victory" or "decisive victory" as promised, with two million Palestinians still residing in Gaza and the Palestinian population remaining in the West Bank. Furthermore, groups like Hamas and Hezbollah persist, and Iran appears stronger. Israel's international standing has weakened, even with its traditional ally, the United States, where a significant portion of younger Americans view Israel negatively.

This frustration is seen as potentially fueling the "No more mister nice guy" approach, where a perceived lack of decisive action is blamed on "old elites" within the military and judiciary. The article suggests that if the right-wing returns to power, it may escalate violence, attempt further expulsions from Gaza and the West Bank, and further curtail the rights of Palestinians within Israel, while also completing a judicial overhaul and hollowing out Israeli democracy. The author concludes that while the right-wing has achieved many of its goals, the persistent Palestinian presence and the weakening international position indicate the limitations of force, and the current frustration may stem from an unconscious recognition of these limits.