Netanyahu's 2022 Election Promises: A Look at Fulfilled and Unmet Goals
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
An analysis of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 2022 election promises reveals that most remain unfulfilled by October 2026. Key pledges regarding security, economic relief, and societal unity have been overshadowed by major security events, including the October 7th Hamas attack, and the controversial judicial reform. International normalization efforts have also stalled. The Likud party dismissed the report as politically motivated.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Most of Prime Minister Netanyahu's 2022 election promises on security, economy, and societal unity remain unfulfilled by October 2026.
- The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack significantly impacted Israel's security landscape and stalled normalization efforts.
- Judicial reform, absent from Netanyahu's victory speech, later triggered unprecedented nationwide protests.
- Economic promises, including reducing the cost of living and lowering taxes, were largely unmet.
- International relations deteriorated, with normalization talks with Saudi Arabia frozen and Western countries imposing sanctions.
- The Likud party criticized the report as a politically biased "pamphlet" from opposition media.
In the early hours of November 2, 2022, following his election victory, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to restore security, reduce the cost of living, and heal societal divisions in Israel. He notably omitted any mention of judicial reform, a policy that later sparked widespread protests. Netanyahu also promised to expand Israel's peace agreements. However, by October 2026, with new elections approaching, a review indicates that most of these promises remain unfulfilled.
Security was a central theme of Netanyahu's 2022 campaign. He vowed to strengthen the nation and protect its soldiers and police. Yet, the period saw significant security challenges. By August 2023, 34 Israelis had been killed in attacks. In March 2023, a terrorist infiltrated from Lebanon, detonating a device near Megiddo. Later, a Hezbollah tent was erected on Israeli-claimed territory, which the government initially sought to resolve diplomatically. In September 2023, an explosive device was found in Yarkon Park, intended for former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon. Despite assurances of Hamas's desire for calm, the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza. The subsequent war has been the longest and most multi-fronted in Israel's history, with over 2,100 additional deaths since October 7. While Israel inflicted heavy damage on Hamas and Hezbollah, including the elimination of leaders like Hassan Nasrallah, many hostages were killed in captivity, and the country remains engaged on multiple fronts.
Economically, Netanyahu promised to lower the cost of living. A ministerial commission was formed but never reconvened. Promises to freeze municipal taxes, reduce utility rates, and lower fuel prices were largely unmet, with gasoline prices reaching record highs. A pledge to eventually reduce VAT was also not realized.
The judicial reform, a cornerstone of the government's agenda, was conspicuously absent from Netanyahu's victory speech. Instead, he promised to reduce societal conflict. However, the reform led to hundreds of thousands protesting weekly before the war. Post-October 7, societal divisions shifted to focus on accountability for the attack and the fate of the hostages, with political rhetoric becoming more aggressive.
Regarding international relations, Netanyahu aimed to "expand the circle of peace" and re-establish Israel as a "growing power among nations." While progress was made towards a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, the October 7 attacks froze these negotiations. Relations with Western countries also deteriorated, partly due to international arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Several countries imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements.
The Likud party responded to the article, calling it a "political pamphlet" rather than an objective report and accusing some Israeli media of acting as participants in the election campaign.
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