Likud Party Believes Political Cost of October 7 Has Been Paid

Senior figures within Israel's ruling Likud party believe the political repercussions from the October 7th attacks have been fully absorbed by the electorate and are no longer a decisive factor in voter choices, according to the Maariv newspaper. Party strategists suggest that voters who held Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for the events have already abandoned him, while loyal supporters have accepted the reality and are now prioritizing other issues like the economy, security, and the cost of living.

As elections approach, Likud's political technologists are focusing public attention on perceived threats from political opponents and external adversaries such as Iran, Turkey, and Lebanon. Internal party calculations indicate that discussions about potential coalitions between rivals and Arab parties serve to divert voters' attention from accountability for past failures. This strategy allows the current prime minister to position himself as the nation's protector against both internal and external challenges.

Opposition parties are also not solely campaigning on the October 7th issue, dividing their focus between this and various socio-economic concerns. This aligns with political analysts' views that the direct electoral impact of the tragedy has diminished over time. The accuracy of the Likud party's assessment will be determined by the upcoming election results.