Netanyahu's final campaign strategy: Fear - opinion

Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted gears in his campaign, entering what political analysts are calling his "fear phase." It's a tactic that's been used before, almost always in the final days leading up to an election. The message is always the same: "I am the only one who can protect Israel. Without me, the country will fall apart. Without me, Israel will be destroyed. You need me."

The preview to this phase was a reported possible military operation against Iran, just a week ago. However, the real campaign kicked off on Friday. In an interview with Channel 10, Netanyahu warned of potential international banking sanctions on Israel. He went further, claiming he was already exploring ways to circumvent these sanctions using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.

The news sent shockwaves through Israel's financial sector. Even the Bank of Israel released a stern statement, dismissing the notion that cryptocurrency could help evade sanctions. The central bank made it clear, the best way to deal with sanctions is to prevent them from happening in the first place, not to search for ways around them.

Netanyahu's campaign rhetoric took a terrifying turn on Saturday night when he released a video. He warned that Iran had restarted its nuclear program, vowed to destroy Israel, and that the survival of the nation hung in the balance during the upcoming election. He implored Israelis to listen to US President Donald Trump and vote for him. Sunday afternoon saw Netanyahu sharing an AI-generated image of a mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv, coupled with a stern warning of the consequences if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon.

The message was clear: "If you want Israel to survive, vote for Netanyahu. If you're willing to risk the country's destruction, either through financial collapse due to international sanctions or a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv, then vote for someone else." This is Netanyahu's election strategy, laid bare: fear. Iran poses a real threat to Israel, just as the danger of international sanctions is very real.

These are challenges any Israeli government will have to face. However, there's a stark contrast between addressing these threats and using them as a scare tactic, between preparing the public for difficult decisions and deliberately instilling fear to the point where people believe their country's survival depends on one man.

This is not just electioneering at its worst, but fear-mongering disguised as national security. It's Netanyahu's tried and tested playbook: scare Israelis into submission, convincing them to vote not because they trust his leadership or support his policies, but out of fear of what might happen without him. This strategy has worked before, and Netanyahu knows it's why he continues to employ it.

But Israelis should know better by now. After October 7 and everything the country has endured, the notion that one politician has a monopoly on protecting Israel should be dismissed. Israel existed prior to Netanyahu, and it will continue to exist after him. Its survival doesn't hinge on one individual, one party, or one election.