Netanyahu's security record looms over his election campaign
Amman3 min read
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Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made ensuring the security of the Hebrew state his core doctrine, many doubts are being raised about his ability to protect the country, especially after the October 7 attack and the assault on a "flydubai" flight bound for Tel Aviv, both of which have fueled criticism against him as the general elections approach at the end of this month.
In speech after speech, Netanyahu boasts that he has eliminated Israel's enemies since the October 7, 2023 attack, particularly in light of the setbacks suffered by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, while Iranian leaders have been forced into hiding following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other prominent officials in the US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic on February 28. However, many believe that accusations leveled against him by the opposition regarding his government's failure to prevent the unprecedented Hamas attack are weakening his election campaign, especially after reports emerged pointing to warnings from several countries of an imminent military action against the Hebrew state.
One heckler even shouted during his speech at the memorial ceremony marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attack, saying, "You didn't protect my son or the other 1,200 killed on October 7, shame on you!", prompting Netanyahu to pause his speech for moments. Weeks before the election date on October 27, the recent attack aboard a "flydubai" flight bound for Tel Aviv helped shed light on security gaps.
Michael Horowitz, an independent geopolitical analyst, believes that "these criticisms could weaken Netanyahu, because they bring the campaign back to its main point of weakness: trust in his ability to protect Israelis."
His main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, said during a counter-terrorism conference, "He knew something was about to happen before the October attack."
Eisenkot, along with other opposition figures, is calling for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to determine who is responsible for any security gaps that led to October 7, a demand the government has thus far rejected.
While Netanyahu was busy quelling criticism and accusations related to the October 7 attack, the "flydubai" affair emerged to place him before another front.
Although he initially managed to exploit the incident by having his picture taken with the flight's passengers who thwarted an attempted attack by the co-pilot, according to Israeli and Emirati authorities, his government now faces accusations of neglecting security on flights heading to Israel. Writer Ben Caspit stated in the *Maariv* newspaper, "Three years after the most horrific failure in the State of Israel... a new failure has been exposed."
Amid these pressures, Netanyahu ordered a security review of international flights to Israel on Sunday, especially following demands for the resignation of Transportation Minister Miri Regev.
Amid the controversy raised over security issues, opinion polls show that his popularity has dipped slightly behind Eisenkot, yet the race remains too close to call a winner.
According to Horowitz, it is not too late for Netanyahu to rally Israelis behind him once again, even if through declaring victory over Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
He said, "He can convince voters that he knew how to respond," adding that "his main bet is that voters will reward him for his reaction, rather than punish him for his failures."
