Netanyahu's Unfulfilled Promises: Four Years of Grand Claims vs. Reality
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Four years after Benjamin Netanyahu's 2022 election victory, many of his core promises on security, cost of living, and national unity remain unfulfilled, according to Ynet. Security challenges, including the October 7th Hamas attack, have persisted despite significant military operations. Economic pledges to lower living costs have not been met, and societal divisions, initially fueled by judicial reform, have continued. Efforts to expand peace agreements, particularly with Saudi Arabia, have stalled, and international relations have become strained.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu's 2022 election promises on security, cost of living, and unity remain largely unfulfilled four years later.
- The October 7th Hamas attack, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, starkly contrasted security pledges.
- Economic promises to lower living costs and taxes have not materialized, with fuel prices reaching record highs.
- Societal divisions, initially driven by judicial reform protests, have persisted and shifted focus post-October 7th.
- Peace initiatives, particularly normalization with Saudi Arabia, have stalled following the October 7th attacks.
- International relations have become strained, with arrest warrants and sanctions impacting Israel's global standing.
Four years after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 2022 election victory, many of his key campaign promises regarding security, cost of living, and national unity remain unfulfilled, according to an analysis by Ynet. In his victory speech on November 2, 2022, Netanyahu pledged to restore national pride, care for soldiers and police, avoid unnecessary conflicts while defending Israel, lower living costs, reduce societal divisions, and expand peace.
Security concerns have been a major area where reality diverged from promises. By August 2023, 34 Israelis had died in terror attacks. Incidents included a terrorist infiltration from Lebanon in March 2023 and a prolonged diplomatic standoff over a Hezbollah tent erected on Israeli-claimed territory. An attempted attack on former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon in September 2023 further highlighted security challenges. Despite assumptions that Hamas was focused on economic gains, the October 7th attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza. While Israel has significantly degraded Hamas's infrastructure and leadership, and launched operations against Hezbollah and Iran, the country remains engaged on multiple fronts in 2026, far from the promised "ultimate victory."
Economically, Netanyahu's promise to "lower the cost of living" has largely gone unmet. A ministerial commission established to combat high prices convened only once. Promises to freeze municipal taxes, reduce utility tariffs, and lower VAT have not materialized. Fuel prices, which Netanyahu pledged to reduce, reached record highs before a slight decrease. The societal rifts Netanyahu aimed to heal were exacerbated by the judicial reform, which triggered massive protests, and later by the ongoing conflict and debates over hostages and accountability for the October 7th failures.
Regarding foreign policy, initial progress toward normalization with Saudi Arabia, highlighted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's statements before the war, stalled after October 7th. The expansion of the Abraham Accords has largely halted. Relations with the West have also become complicated, with international bodies issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, leading to fewer foreign trips. Additionally, the UK and 11 other nations imposed sanctions, restricting trade with Israeli settlements.
Other unfulfilled promises include free education for children aged zero to three. The author concludes that Israel is still far from achieving "ultimate victory."
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