Analyst: Netanyahu Using Security Escalation for Election Gain
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
Political analyst Dr. Salim Breik believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leveraging security escalations in Gaza and the West Bank to influence the upcoming elections and potentially draw the U.S. into a confrontation with Iran. Breik noted the stability of political blocs but warned smaller parties face electoral collapse. He also stated that military leaders are committed to remaining apolitical, despite Netanyahu's efforts to politicize security issues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Analyst Salim Breik claims Netanyahu is using security escalation for election gain and to provoke an Iran confrontation.
- Minor shifts within political blocs threaten smaller parties like Vinet and Tzeva Israel with electoral failure.
- The collapse of small parties could allow the Izankot bloc to form a government, avoiding reliance on Arab parties.
- Breik dismissed election postponement due to security, citing military leaders' commitment to neutrality.
- Iran's nuclear and missile programs are long-term threats, not immediate causes for pre-election war, according to Breik.
Political analyst and lecturer Dr. Salim Breik stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to steer the upcoming elections towards a security agenda through escalation in Gaza and the West Bank. Breik suggested Netanyahu is also trying to involve the U.S. administration in a confrontation with Iran before the elections, a scenario he deemed unlikely.
Breik observed that election results and political bloc trends have remained relatively stable for over four months, with minor shifts of less than 1.8%. He highlighted that changes are occurring within blocs, posing a risk to smaller parties like "Vinet" and "Tzeva Israel" (General Mobilization/Yanon Zelekha), which could fail to cross the electoral threshold. The analyst noted that the collapse of these parties might enable the "Izankot" bloc to form a government, while their survival could lead to new elections, especially given the "Izankot" bloc's reluctance to rely on Arab parties.
Regarding the possibility of postponing elections under the guise of national security, Breik dismissed the idea, asserting that the opposition would not succumb to such pressure. He emphasized the commitment of security and military leaders, such as Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, to keeping the military out of politics. Military intelligence has reportedly confirmed no urgent security situation in Iran necessitates pre-election operations.
Breik identified Iran's primary threats as its nuclear program and ballistic missiles, but stressed these are long-standing issues not requiring war days before an election. He concluded that the Israeli security establishment is prepared for all possibilities, separate from political maneuvering.
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