Netanyahu falls back on classic security playbook as election approaches - analysis
"Netanyahu does not surrender" is the official slogan for Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, which most opinion polls predict will lose around a third of its parliamentary seats.
Benjamin Netanyahu is employing his classic security-focused campaign strategy as he fights to retain power in Israel's upcoming election. With the October 27 poll serving as his first since the deadliest day in the nation's history, the 77-year-old prime minister is struggling to salvage his security credentials following the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023.
This attack, considered one of the worst security breaches in Israeli history, has shattered Netanyahu's image and left him grappling with accusations from political rivals.
In his campaign, Netanyahu positions himself as the only person capable of safeguarding Israelis against external threats, often portraying his opponents as weak leftists. However, his ability to maintain his historically strong political position after such a dramatic security failure is now being questioned. Yohanan Plesner, President of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute, suggests that this election is a referendum on Netanyahu's responsibility for the security breach and the government's response.
Despite the challenges, Netanyahu appears to be sticking to familiar tactics that have kept him in power since 2009. His strategy seems to be focused on winning enough seats to prevent the formation of an alternative government, potentially leading to a stalemate and another election.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
