Netanyahu Defies All Odds to Complete Full Term Amid Turmoil and Controversy

Four years after the devastating October 7 attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has completed a full term in office, defying widespread predictions of his political downfall. Despite severe public opposition and internal coalition challenges, Netanyahu expanded his coalition to 68 Knesset seats, appointed key security officials, and passed controversial legislation.

Following the October 7, 2023 massacre, many expected Netanyahu’s government to collapse quickly. Senior ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich, warned that the coalition had only days of legitimacy left. Yet, Netanyahu’s government survived multiple crises, including threats from coalition partners like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, and the departure of ultra-Orthodox parties.

Netanyahu appointed new heads of the military, Mossad, and Shin Bet, dismissed the defense minister, and blocked the establishment of a state inquiry into the worst security failure in Israel’s history. Last week, his coalition succeeded in passing legislation that many thought impossible, relying on votes from Likud members who privately opposed the laws.

A hypothetical scenario imagining the October 7 events under a different government led by Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Benny Gantz, and Avigdor Lieberman suggests that such a coalition would have collapsed within weeks. Netanyahu’s ability to maintain political stability amid ongoing security threats, including a strengthened Iran and unresolved issues like ultra-Orthodox conscription, highlights his political skill.

Despite paying a heavy price in compromises, Netanyahu’s two decades of political survival demonstrate his mastery of coalition-building and strategy. Polls indicate his current coalition is far from a majority, yet Netanyahu remains the most adept politician in Israel, capable of reshaping the political landscape and potentially surprising critics once again in future elections.