Exodus from Israeli cabinet: Could it trigger elections, topple Netanyahu?

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s exit from Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is linked “to the possibility of Hamas staying power in Gaza for some period of time,” Bar-Ilan University politics Prof. Zeev Hanin told Sputnik, commenting on Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich’s resignation/ break from the PM’s government.

The coalition’s right wing is furious because the stated goal was “to free the hostages and destroy” Hamas, with dissident ministers also opposed to the ceasefire in general, “at least at this stage,” according to Hanin.

At the same time, “at least two thirds of Israelis, judging by the polls, will be satisfied at this stage” with the return of the hostages, and consider it “a victory in this war,” the observer said.

The attitude is, “return them, and deal with Hamas in the future,” Hanin added.

Springtime elections for Netanyahu?

Netanyahu’s coalition has 63 mandates in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset, meaning the far-right ministers’ actions not enough to topple him outright.

Elections are likely this year, but “no earlier than the spring,” Hanin believes.

“They will take place when Netanyahu decides it’s convenient for him to dissolve the Knesset and stage the vote, if the deal brings him political dividends, shall we say. Most importantly, if there are some agreements with Trump behind the deal, any concessions in Gaza will seem reasonable and moderate,” he summed up.

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🔸 What executive orders did Trump announce during his inauguration speech?

🔸 Trump's "No Bible" move did not go unnoticed by internet users

🔸 VIDEO: President Putin congratulates Trump on taking office

🔸 What is Trump’s to-do list on his first day as president?

🔸 Neocon skeletons in team Trump’s closet – who are they?

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🗳 Trump hints at MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD in California, calls for voter ID law

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🥴 Biden's final moment before departing D.C. was him looking for the stairs

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📹 Throwback: Trump’s first inauguration on January 20, 2017

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Elon Musk: 🥳

Barron Trump: 😑

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Europe after Trump’s inauguration speech

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🤡 Losers envy

The Telegraph compares the inaugural crowds, failing to mention that this year’s ceremony took place indoors.

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⚔️ ‘Panama has no possibility to oppose the request’ – analyst

💬 “The Monroe doctrine is 150 years old. Trump is relaunching it in a clear global twist: Panama Canal back under US control, Canada within the US security interests zone, and Greenland (that de facto was American after being British) is the extension of the Northers US security zone,” Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, told Sputnik.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed territorial claims over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. In his inaugural speech earlier today, Trump vowed to “take back” the Canal.

💬 “None of this requires the use of force. Denmark, for instance, is already signaling interest in a dialogue about the terms of a deal,” the analyst noted.

However, President José Raúl Mulino of the Republic of Panama firmly rejected Trump's territorial claims on the Canal, following Trump’s inaugural remarks.

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❗️ Hamas confirmed that the second group of Israeli hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners on the scheduled date next Saturday, January 25.

The statement posted on the group's Telegram channel did not specify how many hostages will be released.

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❗️ Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirms Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State

The nomination will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.

During a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Rubio said that the United States' official position on the Ukraine conflict must be that it should be brought to an end.

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📑 All Trump’s executive orders will be executed – analyst

"Their degree of implementation will depend on opportunity calculus," said Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, in an interview with Sputnik. The expert commented on reports that US President Donald Trump plans to sign over 200 executive actions on his first day in office.

💬 "Trump will easily accuse the DEM should some orders fail to be implemented. Therefore, the orders should be seen as transactive tools," Raffone explained.

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🗣 Trump views EU as part of US’s sphere of influence, which should accept its role or ‘face consequences’ – analyst

💬 “The message to the EU and the European countries is that they belong to the US sphere of influence and, therefore, they should play their cards accordingly or face consequences,” Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, told Sputnik. Raffone commented on what signal Trump sends to European elites and their globalist values.

💬 “Basically, Trump ignores them, particularly the EU Commission and Ursula von der Leyen,” the analyst added.

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