PM: ‘Possibility for movement’ on hostage deal; says won’t resign: Israel ‘got stronger under my leadership’
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is asked about reports of possible progress toward a new agreement for the release of hostages.
“Hamas has issued all kinds of ultimatums that we’ve not accepted,” he says at his press conference, noting that if a viable deal is possible, “it will be carried out.”
Right now, he adds carefully, “We see a possibility, maybe, for movement.” But he also stresses: “I don’t want to raise exaggerated expectations.”
In answer to another question, Netanyahu says, as he has done often since the Hamas onslaught of October 7, that he will not resign: “The only thing I’m going to resign from is Hamas. That’s what I’m dealing with.”
He says the full investigation of the failures surrounding October 7 will take place only “at the end of the fighting,” although some lessons have “already been learned.”
He is reminded that 10 years ago, in an interview on the Eretz Nehederet satirical show, he said he would want to be judged historically for his contribution to the security of Israel, and is asked if that is still the case.
“History will judge,” he says, stressing that he works to “ensure Israel is strong economically, strong militarily, strong diplomatically.”
“In the years I’ve led Israel, it got much stronger,” he says, citing the fact that “we can manage a multi-front campaign” that will soon have lasted 90 days.
Support for Netanyahu, already sliding before the war over his handling of the controversial judicial overhaul, has plunged since the Hamas-led October 7 massacres, in which terrorists rampaged through southern communities and military posts, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking some 240 hostages to Gaza.
According to a Channel 13 news survey published earlier this month, 70 percent of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign as prime minister.
Among them, 41% believe he should quit at the end of the war, while 31% believe he should do so immediately. Only 19% of respondents said he is fit to continue in the position, while 9% answered that they didn’t know what he should do.
Asked a final question at the press conference, regarding when Israel will hold municipal elections, he says a decision will be made tomorrow, and it is likely the elections will be postponed again to the end of February. “That’ll be my recommendation,” he says.