Netanyahu’s grip is loosening amid unrest in Israel

“Accountability and justice should be pursued with equal rigor and equal resources in all cases of extremist violence to prevent such attacks and bring those responsible to justice,” Price said.

Netanyahu’s allies insist he will be able to balance these competing demands.

“Anyone who knows Prime Minister Netanyahu knows that his personal and political skills in particular are unquestionable,” said May Golan, a minister without portfolio in Mr Netanyahu’s cabinet.

She ignored reports of disagreements in the cabinet.

“There is a huge gap between what is published in the media and the day-to-day management of the coalition,” Ms. Golan said. “Our coalition is a homogeneous, right-wing, Zionist coalition – with identical goals, identical values ​​and identical objectives.”

Some analysts say Mr Netanyahu’s far-right allies are unlikely to abandon him, knowing that without him they have few other avenues to power. But critics say he is at risk of losing control of his government and the country.

Any move he takes to placate President Biden, such as sending an envoy to meet Palestinian leaders in Jordan on Sunday, angers his far-right allies and encourages them to take countermeasures.

After Mr Netanyahu criticized settler attacks in the West Bank this week, his Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir called for an end to what he called the government’s “containment policy”. Mr Ben-Gvir also showed up at an unauthorized settler outpost and demanded that it be maintained even as security forces evicted settlers who had moved there.

The contortions inherent in Mr Netanyahu’s strategy became particularly clear on Sunday, when the Biden administration announced that the Israelis and Palestinians had agreed to several de-escalation measures, including a freeze on new settlement announcements. Hours later, amid criticism from Mr Netanyahu’s right flank, the Israeli government said there had been “no halt to construction” and “no change in Israeli policy”.