Dov Waxman

He needs Ben-Gavir's party, because without that party in the Knesset, then there's no hope that Netanyahu will be able to cobble together a coalition to remain in power.

So he can't completely alienate Ben-Gavir.

Right.

And until he's really replaced, you know, I think these kinds of videos and that kind of treatment that we're hearing about is likely to continue because this is something that Ben Fair himself encourages and supports.

That's right.

I mean, for now, while he still faces these criminal charges and the real possibility of being convicted, his political survival is actually the key for his personal freedom.

As long as he remains in office, he's not going to be convicted of those charges.

It's unlikely.

He can drag out the trial, as he's been doing quite successfully.

But yeah, if he was to lose power, he could be in real legal jeopardy.

And so that's, I think, the criticism and the complaint that many Israelis who support Netanyahu's policies or at least sympathetic to his policies question his motives.

Many people who might once have supported Netanyahu have become frustrated precisely because they believe that his own political interests are sometimes trumping Israel's diplomatic and other interests.

Well, I think he's demonstrated time and again that he's adept at manoeuvring in the Israeli political system.

He's the best able to cobble together a coalition government by making promises to other parties,

whereas other Israeli political leaders and his rivals have failed to do that.

I don't think we should count Netanyahu out or write his political obituary just yet.

Well, I think it will mean a continuation of Israel's current policies, really, which is a continuation of, you know, very likely the IDF will remain entrenched in the Gaza Strip for a long time to come.

So a continuation of the

grim situation in Gaza.

I think it's unlikely to see any real change in Israel's approach to Lebanon and to Hezbollah, so continued periods of warfare and of mass displacement of Lebanese civilians in Lebanon.