Israel’s Forever War: Netanyahu Accused of Prolonging Gaza Genocide to Dodge Corruption Trials
As Israel faces “decisive days” following a major military escalation, a new documentary and historical analysis accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging war to avoid corruption investigations, while the nation’s moral decline has led to accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Israel is entering what media and opposition leaders call “decisive days” after a major military escalation that has deepened public fear and raised existential questions beyond Netanyahu’s political future or the alliance with the United States [168235]. A new documentary, “Planet Israel,” argues that Netanyahu is prolonging war to avoid corruption investigations, claiming he needs far-right allies to stay in power and indefinitely delay legal scrutiny of his alleged corruption [165113]. The film states that since the 7 October attack, Netanyahu has normalized a cruel political culture and calls civilian deaths in Gaza an international scandal [165113]. It further argues that all Israeli citizens, both hawks and doves, are pressured to accept endless war as proof of patriotic loyalty [165113].
Historian Omer Bartov’s new book traces Israel’s moral and political decline over decades, from a celebrated democracy to a state accused of war crimes [144553]. Bartov points to actions including the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, genocide in Gaza, the invasion of Syria, and the relentless bombardment of Lebanon [144553]. The book argues that the United States’ participation in the “illegal war” confirmed for many in the region that Israel is a western imperialist outpost [144553]. Netanyahu’s ban on foreign journalists in Gaza is designed to hide the situation, according to the documentary [165113].