Key facts
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using his established campaign playbook to seek re-election.
- Netanyahu's political rivals are portraying him as responsible for the security failure during the Hamas attack.
- Netanyahu's Likud party is predicted to lose about a third of its parliamentary seats in the upcoming election.
- The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, is described as one of Israel's worst security breaches and the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
- Netanyahu's campaign has featured AI-generated images portraying his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, with Arab party leaders.
- Netanyahu stated that the election is about choosing between a Palestinian state or a Jewish state.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is employing familiar campaign tactics to retain power in an upcoming election, emphasizing his role as Israel's protector amid regional hostilities and the ongoing war in Gaza. However, his security credentials have been significantly challenged following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which is described as one of Israel's worst security failures and the most severe attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to lose approximately one-third of its parliamentary seats in the election scheduled for October 27. In his campaign messaging, Netanyahu portrays his political rivals as weak on security and susceptible to international criticism. Despite these challenges, a source close to Netanyahu indicated that the prime minister approaches all elections with a mindset of potential loss, a strategy that has contributed to his past victories.
The Hamas assault triggered a multi-front conflict where Israel has engaged Palestinian militants, Hezbollah, and Iran, though strategic gains have been limited. Israel's military actions in Gaza have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction, leading to increased diplomatic isolation. Support for Israel has reportedly waned, even among its key ally, the United States. Unlike his previous campaigns, Netanyahu's current election efforts have not featured endorsements from US President Donald Trump.
Netanyahu's campaign has also focused on stoking fears among Israel's Arab minority, warning that a victory for his rivals could lead to a government that is too lenient on Palestinians and compromises security. His main opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, a hawkish former military chief, is being targeted in Likud's campaign materials, including AI-generated images. Netanyahu has framed the election as a choice between a Palestinian state and a Jewish state. Political analysts suggest that Netanyahu's strategy may be to secure just enough votes to prevent an alternative government from forming, potentially leading to a stalemate that keeps him in power as an interim prime minister.