Netanyahu's Election Slogan Echoes 1996 'Jerusalem' Scare Tactic

Ahead of the 2026 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign is employing a slogan, "Right or Palestine," which analysts liken to the "Peres will divide Jerusalem" tactic used by his campaign in 1996. This strategy aims to consolidate right-wing voters by framing the election as a binary choice, capitalizing on heightened fears of the Palestinian threat following the October 7th attacks.

In 1996, Netanyahu, then a younger politician facing a more experienced Shimon Peres, adopted the "Peres will divide Jerusalem" slogan amidst a period of active peace negotiations and a wave of terror attacks. This message resonated with a public concerned about territorial concessions. The current slogan, "Right or Palestine," is seen as a modern iteration, designed to distract from domestic issues like the cost of living and the fallout from the October 7th massacre, and to appeal to a public that has shifted politically rightward.

A review of thousands of social media posts by the "Scooper" platform indicates that while discussions of "Palestine" have appeared in various contexts since October 7th, 2023, the "Right or Palestine" framing intensified in the months leading up to the election campaign. Minister Amihai Chikli first used the phrase in late July, but it was adopted as a central message by Netanyahu in late September, with a coordinated surge in posts by Likud members.

However, the article points out a significant contradiction: Netanyahu himself signed onto the 21-point "Deal of the Century" plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump in October 2025. This plan included provisions for a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, a fact the campaign reportedly prefers not to highlight. Critics, including Avigdor Lieberman and Ofer Winter, argue that Netanyahu's past actions and agreements, including the Trump plan and implicit understandings with Hamas, contradict his current electoral message.

While other political leaders like Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid have publicly stated their opposition to a Palestinian state, the article suggests that digging into past statements might not favor Netanyahu either. The current political climate, marked by a significant rightward shift in public opinion and the absence of an active peace process, differs from 1996, yet the campaign is leveraging a similar fear-based strategy.