Gaza War Renewal Dominates Election Panel in Southern Israel
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
During an election panel in southern Israel, representatives from most major parties agreed on the need to renew the conflict in Gaza. Minister Orit Struk advocated for military rule and settlement, while MK Limor Son Har Melech pushed for Palestinian expulsion. Other parties proposed foreign governance or working with Arab nations. Residents confronted politicians about the October 7th failures and the ongoing security situation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Most Israeli political parties represented at a Gaza envelope election panel supported renewing the conflict in Gaza.
- Minister Orit Struk called for military rule, emigration, and settlement in Gaza.
- MK Limor Son Har Melech stated that expelling Palestinians from Gaza would be her party's main policy.
- Yisrael Beiteinu proposed transferring Gaza's governance to foreign forces.
- Residents confronted politicians about the government's failures leading to the October 7th massacre.
- Nir Hajbi of the Yachad party was the only one not to explicitly mention renewing the fighting.
Representatives from most major Israeli political parties met with residents of the Gaza envelope at Kibbutz Nirim on Monday for an election panel hosted by the 'Otef Israel' Forum. The central theme of the discussion was the future of the Gaza Strip, with nearly all candidates expressing support for renewing the intense conflict. Other key topics included the future governance of Gaza and the possibility of re-establishing Israeli settlements.
Minister Orit Struk of the Religious Zionism party reiterated her opposition to the Disengagement plan and advocated for military rule, emigration, and settlement in Gaza, stating "Gaza is part of the Land of Israel." Her remarks were met with interruptions from residents who blamed the government for the October 7th massacre and the ongoing security situation. Conversely, some attendees applauded her calls for the expulsion of Palestinians.
MK Limor Son Har Melech of Otzma Yehudit declared that expelling Palestinians from Gaza would be her party's flagship policy. Some residents, however, criticized Struk and Son Har Melech for their repeated promises of such policies without action, attributing the delay to insufficient government insistence.
Sigal Krounik, representing the 'Am Israel' party, stated her party would not support full military rule but also would not permit foreign presence in Gaza. Roi Konkol of Blue and White agreed on the necessity of renewing the war but conditioned it on forming a unity government. IDF Col. (res.) Talia Lenkri of Yisrael Beiteinu proposed transferring governance of Gaza to foreign forces, dismissing calls for expulsion as "delusional" and questioning the feasibility of controlling the Strip with current military resources.
Ze'ev Elkin of Likud defended Prime Minister Netanyahu's past policies regarding Gaza as the "least bad option" that balanced objectives. He predicted a future confrontation with the US over Israeli control. Elkin also faced criticism from both the left and right regarding past government actions. Amir Strogo of Bayachad pledged to work with Egypt and the UAE to change the balance of power in Gaza, while also seeking to designate Qatar as a terror state.
Nir Hajbi of the Yachad party was the only panelist who did not explicitly address renewing the fighting, though he committed to maintaining a wide security buffer zone between Gaza and Israeli communities. The 'Democrates' party, which has significant support in Gaza envelope kibbutzim, did not send a representative.
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