Netanyahu keeps putting himself before Israel, proving he is unfit to lead - opinion
Netanyahu could have led Israel through a process of healing and accountability. Instead, he continues to treat his own political survival as the country's greatest priority.
In the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, it might have been beneficial if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had taken responsibility for the government's failures and initiated an independent investigation into the events leading up to the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Instead, he chose to deflect responsibility and continued his traditional approach of evading accountability.
Three years later, Netanyahu still fails to demonstrate the qualities of leadership that are essential, such as humility, accountability, and a recognition that the interests of the country must always come before his own.
During the recent election, Netanyahu sought to instill fear in the hearts of Israelis by warning them that if he lost the election, Israel would cease to exist. He shared an AI-generated image of Tel Aviv being swallowed by a nuclear explosion and delivered a speech that portrayed the annihilation of Israel as a real possibility. This approach was characterized by the politics of fear, aiming to manipulate voters into supporting him at any cost.
Despite the majority of Israelis voting against Netanyahu, granting the anti-Netanyahu bloc 67 seats, while the parties in the current coalition won only 53, Netanyahu remains unfazed. His politics of fear, division, and falsehoods persist, and he continues to prioritize his own interests over those of the country. The opening of the new Knesset, meant to be a celebration of Israeli democracy, was marred by Netanyahu's speech warning that a government supported by Arab parties would endanger Israel's existence and label them as supporters of terrorism.
Netanyahu's actions and rhetoric are a stark contrast to the democratic process that took place during the election, with a high turnout among Arab Israelis, who make up roughly 20% of the population. His refusal to sit with Ra'am, a party led by Mansour Abbas, despite previously seeking their support, highlights his hypocrisy. Netanyahu's actions also send a message that Arab citizens are not equal and their democratic rights are somehow second-class, further widening divisions and turning Israelis against one another.
This behavior, set against the backdrop of potential military conflicts, poses a significant threat to the unity and stability of the country.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
