Al Jazeera Highlights Arab World’s Secret Plan to Oust Netanyahu and Shift Israeli Politics

In recent months, voices within the Arab world have increasingly called for a change in Israel’s government, favoring a leadership more open to establishing a Palestinian state. This sentiment has grown louder since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with Arab states and media portraying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a major obstacle to peace and regional stability.

Al Jazeera commentator Ihab Jabarin recently stated that Netanyahu is experiencing one of the most humiliating periods of his political career, suggesting that if Netanyahu falls, the Likud party and the Israeli right could collapse, paving the way for the Israeli left to take power. Jabarin claims this is not mere speculation but a coordinated plan supported by Arab countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. He argues that Netanyahu’s long control over Likud has personalized the party around him, and his political downfall could lead to its disintegration.

Arab media outlets, particularly Al Jazeera, have intensified criticism of Netanyahu’s government, hosting Israeli guests who sharply oppose his policies. Even Egypt, typically cautious about hosting Israeli critics, recently featured journalist Gideon Levy condemning Netanyahu’s approach. Arab governments view Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, especially since 2022 with partners like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as promoting aggressive settlement expansion and de facto annexation in the West Bank, rejecting the Palestinian state idea.

Arab states prefer a left-leaning Israeli government willing to negotiate with Palestinians, potentially freezing settlement construction and making territorial concessions. This preference is driven by pragmatic interests: regional stability, easing public pressure, and advancing normalization efforts. Netanyahu’s vision of a "Greater Israel" and opposition to a Palestinian state are seen as direct threats.

The article also references former Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s 2022 UN speech advocating a two-state solution, aligning with Arab aspirations. Arab countries, particularly Qatar, are working to unseat Netanyahu and weaken the right-wing bloc, aiming to replace it with a government more amenable to peace talks. However, the piece concludes by emphasizing that Israeli voters ultimately determine the country’s political future, not external pressures or propaganda.