Palestinians Show Favor for Netanyahu’s Rival, Noting Signs of Compromise

By Stephen Farrell and Dan Williams

RAMALLAH, West Bank/JERUSALEM – On Wednesday, Palestinian sentiment shifted towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief election opponent, former top general Benny Gantz, who has publicly questioned the justification for Israel’s control over the Palestinian territories.

With an impending general election and the anticipated announcement of a U.S. peace initiative, Gantz, the centrist candidate, has suggested a willingness to consider territorial compromises in the occupied West Bank. This stance contrasts sharply with Netanyahu, who firmly opposes any withdrawal from settlements.

The U.S. proposal, intended to resolve a long-standing diplomatic stalemate, is expected to be revealed after Israel’s elections scheduled for April 9. Current polling indicates that Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party is likely to secure around 30 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, positioning him for a potential fifth term.

In a recent interview with an Israeli newspaper, Gantz was questioned about opportunities for coexistence with Palestinians, who aspire to establish a state that includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem as its capital. Gantz emphasized, "We need to find a way not to have dominion over other people."

His newly formed Resilience party is gaining traction against Netanyahu’s Likud, with projections suggesting it could win up to 24 seats. While Gantz has expressed support for strengthening major settlement blocs in the West Bank, he has not clarified the future of isolated settlements that could be left outside Israel in the event of a peace agreement.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, commented positively on Gantz’s statements regarding settlements, viewing them as a potentially positive development should Gantz win the election and remain committed to pursuing peace. "It’s encouraging, if he succeeds and holds on to this perspective," Abu Rudeineh remarked.

Most international observers view Israeli settlements established on land occupied during the 1967 war as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this perspective, citing historical connections to the region, and has consistently expanded the settlement population, particularly over the last decade under Netanyahu’s leadership.

Palestinians argue that settlements must be dismantled in any final agreement, though some may be retained by Israel in land swaps. The most recent peace negotiations collapsed in 2014, primarily due to disagreements over settlements, and Abbas has since refused to engage with the Trump administration, which he accuses of favoritism towards Israel.

In response to Gantz’s stance, Likud positioned him as a candidate for a "leftist government" that would be more accommodating to the Palestinians. Gantz’s Resilience party has stated that "no unilateral decisions will be made regarding settlement evacuations" while vowing to uphold essential security measures.

Netanyahu has pointed to the Gaza experience—where Israel withdrew settlements in 2005, only for Hamas to gain control soon after—as evidence that similar withdrawal from the West Bank would pose security risks. Gantz, however, described the Gaza withdrawal as effective and stated, "We need to learn from that experience and apply those lessons elsewhere."

The Trump administration’s position on endorsing a Palestinian state has fluctuated, asserting that the final decision lies with the parties involved, though both sides may need to concede certain points for progress towards peace.