{
  "id": 16482088,
  "title": "Why Netanyahu's supporters remain loyal to him despite his failures - opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/why-netanyahus-supporters-remain-loyal-to-him-despite-his-failures",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T14:14:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-912572"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Benjamin Netanyahu has been a dominant figure in Israeli politics for over a decade, maintaining the loyalty of his supporters despite numerous failures under his leadership. Israel's most successful politician and a political survivor, Netanyahu's enduring appeal lies beyond mere policy. His supporters are drawn to him for a deeper sense of psychological security that he offers through promises of protection, identity, certainty, conviction, and collective struggle.\n\nNetanyahu's security-focused rhetoric resonates deeply with Israelis, who live with a constant awareness of vulnerability due to historical trauma, ongoing conflicts, and external threats. He positions himself as the ultimate protector of Israeli security and peace, making loyalty less about policy and more about trusting him with their safety. His identity-focused rhetoric also blurs the line between himself, his supporters, and the nation, making opposition to him feel like a threat to the country and its security.\n\nNetanyahu's certainty and projection of strong leadership further solidify his following. He consistently presents himself as a visionary who sees what others cannot and possesses the experience to provide solutions. This reassurance is particularly appealing in times of uncertainty, where people seek leaders who understand the situation, know what needs to be done, and are confident to take action.\n\nAnother factor sustaining Netanyahu's loyal following is his ability to turn criticism into conviction. He presents himself as someone who makes right decisions even when they are not immediately understood, with their justification becoming clear in time. This creates a protective shield around him, making him appear infallible. Even when faced with evidence of his mistakes, Netanyahu's supporters can reinterpret reality to maintain their loyalty.\n\nFinally, Netanyahu leverages the deep divisions within Israeli society to maintain his political resilience. He taps into longstanding ideological, religious, ethnic, and social divisions, turning political disagreement into questions of identity and belonging. By portraying opponents as dangerous rather than simply mistaken, Netanyahu makes compromise harder and defense of the leader synonymous with defending their own side. This phenomenon of cognitive dissonance can make it difficult for supporters to let go of Netanyahu, as acknowledging his failures might mean reconsidering their own identity, security, and sense of certainty.",
  "summary": "By presenting himself as Israel’s indispensable protector, Netanyahu has forged a bond with supporters that can withstand even profound failures.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}