Netanyahu's Election Strategy: Controlling Discourse and Exploiting Crises

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of manipulating public discourse during the election campaign, leveraging events and security concerns to bolster his image and political standing. Following an incident involving a Flydubai plane, Netanyahu's advisors reportedly orchestrated a meeting with a passenger who helped avert disaster, using the event to enhance the Prime Minister's image as a decisive leader. Critics argue this tactic, along with his focus on security issues and the controversial conscription law, allows him to sideline opposition and maintain control over the election narrative. His strategy also involves questioning the legitimacy of Arab political parties, a tactic he has employed for decades, which forces rivals to distance themselves from these parties, potentially costing them votes.

Netanyahu is also criticized for his handling of pre-October 7th warnings about Hamas. Reports from "The New York Times," "The Atlantic," and "The Wall Street Journal" suggest that both the UAE president and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel provided specific warnings to Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, about an impending large-scale attack. Despite these warnings, the article claims Netanyahu's focus remained on his own political survival, with security threats being framed as election-related rather than as precursors to a major catastrophe. This approach, the article contends, aims to create a sense of emergency that discourages voters from replacing him.

The article also touches upon the actions and rhetoric of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, particularly his promotion of gun ownership. It criticizes a video of Ben-Gvir and his wife at a shooting range, suggesting it glorifies weapons and downplays the risks associated with his ministry's rapid distribution of gun licenses. The piece highlights concerns about the proliferation of firearms and the potential for increased violence.

Furthermore, the digest addresses instances of violence and incitement against Palestinians, including an incident where ultra-Orthodox youths were filmed assaulting elderly Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City. The article notes the spread of such content online and the lack of intervention, drawing parallels to historical pogroms. It also mentions claims made by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich about a perceived "raising of heads" among Arab citizens of Israel, which is framed as a call to suppress them.

Finally, the piece discusses the Supreme Court's handling of the petition to disqualify Balad party chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh, suggesting the court pressured him to withdraw his candidacy. It also criticizes the alleged politicization of security and law enforcement agencies, citing complaints from the Shin Bet and Mossad regarding media leaks and investigations into journalists, which are presented as efforts to protect the government ahead of the elections. The article concludes by mentioning the upcoming elections, the approved ballot papers, and a call for poll watchers to ensure election integrity.