Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel who has been in power since 2009, is facing serious challenges to maintain his position ahead of the Israeli parliamentary elections on Tuesday. Following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which has escalated tensions in the Middle East, Israel has engaged in warfare in Lebanon and Gaza and conducted airstrikes in Iran, Netanyahu is trying to boost his popularity.
Netanyahu's Current Situation
Netanyahu, recognized as a polarizing figure domestically and as Israel's representative on the international stage, is facing significant criticism from the public and opponents. His supporters refer to him as "King Bibi" and believe he is a strong leader protecting Israel in a hostile region. At the same time, he is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court for allegations related to war crimes in Gaza and is also accused of corruption in Israel.
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Polls indicate a severe decline in the popularity of Netanyahu's Likud party since the October 7 attack, which has significantly damaged his security credibility. Netanyahu's government's policies regarding religion and state have also been unpopular among many Israelis.
Netanyahu's Main Rivals
In this election, Netanyahu's main rivals include Gadi Eisenkot, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Avigdor Lieberman, former Minister of Defense, and Yair Golan, a former general. Eisenkot, who lost his son in the Gaza battles, is emerging as a new political figure with an image of a military and security protector. He leads a new party called "Yashar."
Avigdor Lieberman, former Minister of Defense and a former ally of Netanyahu, has become one of his staunch critics, and his party, "Israel Our Home," primarily receives support from the community of former Soviet immigrants. Yair Golan has also been praised for saving people from one of the Hamas attacks on October 7 and leads the Democratic Party.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are also under intense international scrutiny due to their right-wing policies towards Palestinians. Smotrich focuses on the rapid expansion of settlements in the West Bank, while Ben-Gvir seeks to implement the death penalty for Palestinians accused of crimes.
Netanyahu's political survival depends on two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, "United Torah Judaism" and "Shas." The demands of these parties for exemption from mandatory military service and reliance on government benefits have angered many Israelis.
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