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Netanyahu fends off domestic pressure over troop redeployment

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under public and political pressure over the decision to redeploy most of the IDF ground forces out of the Gaza Strip. More than 100 rockets fell on Israel on Sunday despite Israel beginning to withdraw its forces.

In today’s papers, leading columnists Shmon Shiffer in Yediot Ahronot and Ben Caspit in Maariv both criticise Netanyahu’s decision to redeploy the troops without a clear arrangement to restore quiet, and with rockets still falling in large numbers on southern Israel. According to Caspit, “southern Israel is in a state of collapse, people are afraid to return home, businesses are collapsing and the sense of security sucks.”

Leading Likud Minister Gideon Saar, considered a future challenger for leadership of the party said yesterday, “After withdrawing from Lebanon brought Hezbollah to power and withdrawing from Gaza brought Hamas to power, the lesson must be not to form a terrorist state in the heart of our land,” Sa’ar said, adding that, “A Palestinian state would endanger Israel’s future.”

Meanwhile, a poll broadcast on Channel 2 News on Sunday evening found that 56 per cent of respondents opposed the troops pulling out, with 35 per cent in favour. According to the same survey, 73 per cent believe Israel’s deterrence has been weakened. Prime Minister Netanyahu still enjoys widespread personal support, with 62 per cent satisfied with his performance, though this is a drop from 74 per cent in a survey last Thursday.

Around 300,000 Israelis are believed to have left their homes in the areas close to the Gaza Strip to avoid the threats of rockets and tunnels. Most Israelis have been forced to retreat to bomb shelters at some point over the last few weeks, with rockets triggering air raid sirens throughout the country.

Netanyahu along with Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon have stressed that significant blows have been dealt to Hamas, and that the military operation will continue until the goal of securing long-term quiet for the residents of southern Israel had been achieved.

Meanwhile opposition leader Isaac Herzog urged Netanyahu to follow up the military operation with a diplomatic initiative, saying: “Now that the troops have withdrawn, the prime minister must show diplomatic courage … There is a one-time diplomatic opportunity.”