Netanyahu's Election Campaign Targets Benny Gantz, Warns of Enemy Attacks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is intensifying his election campaign by focusing on Benny Gantz, chairman of the National Unity party. In a new video, Netanyahu warns the public that an electoral victory for Gantz would lead to attacks from Israel's enemies. This latest message is part of a sustained campaign by Netanyahu and the Likud party against Gantz, employing various themes including alleged reliance on Arab parties, Iran, and now, direct threats to national security.

Previous campaign materials have linked Gantz's potential government to the support of Arab parties, with slogans like "There is no Gantz without Tibi." Netanyahu shared a video featuring past statements from Arab politicians, suggesting Gantz would need their support to form a government. Gantz responded sharply, challenging Netanyahu to a public debate and urging an end to "incitement videos."

One particularly controversial video, generated using artificial intelligence, depicted Gantz turning away from a figure representing "Israeli unity" to embrace Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party. Critics noted the "unity" figure bore a resemblance to Gantz's late son, Gal, who was killed in combat in Gaza. The Likud later released a revised version replacing the figure, though Netanyahu dismissed the criticism as a "shocking attempt by extremists online to create false conspiracies."

Netanyahu has consistently integrated security concerns into his campaign against Gantz, raising questions about Gantz's past decisions regarding Iran and the use of force. The current video escalates this by suggesting that a Gantz victory would be perceived by Israel's adversaries as an opportunity to launch attacks. The campaign's core message appears to be the linkage between a change in government leadership and a direct threat to Israel's security, using a rotating set of perceived threats from Arab politicians to Iran and now to external enemies.