Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister and one of the country's most prominent political figures, is facing serious challenges ahead of Tuesday's election. Known as an experienced politician, he is trying to convince voters that he is still the only option capable of ensuring the country's security, relying on three decades of political activity.
The Impact of Hamas Attacks on Netanyahu's Popularity
Netanyahu's reputation as a security-focused politician has been severely affected by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. His main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, a former army commander, is competing fiercely with Netanyahu in the polls by exploiting the public outrage stemming from this failure.
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Netanyahu is now putting all his efforts into leveraging support from Donald Trump, the former President of the United States. He warns that hostile powers want him to lose the election and uses Israelis' concerns about the establishment of a Palestinian state to his advantage.
Political Challenges and Crises
Alongside electoral crises, Netanyahu is also facing an international arrest warrant due to allegations of war crimes in Gaza and a long-standing corruption case. Additionally, the multi-front conflicts that have persisted over the past three years have added to his challenges.
Netanyahu is attempting to use the wars he initiated after October 7 as a tool to justify his security shortcomings and to present military strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah as his achievements.
Born on October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu inherited political ideas from his father, Benzion, who was an advisor to Ze'ev Jabotinsky, the leader of Revisionist Zionism. He is known for his views on expanding Israel's borders and opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Given the current circumstances, Netanyahu hopes to return to power with international support and efforts to maintain Israel's security, although polls indicate that the likelihood of him forming a government alone is low. In a recent interview, he stated that this election is akin to the "continued existence of the Jewish state" and urged the people to vote for him.
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