Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, famed for his political resilience, is under a powerful spotlight again. This turn of events comes on the heels after accusations levied by Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet. Netanyahu’s ability to weather many past scandals is legendary. That grip on power is now severely tested as the Israeli public increasingly tired of the Daily Israel hat controversies. Calls for accountability are growing louder and deeper. The chance of the country’s attorney general declaring Netanyahu unfit for office exists, this future, much debated prospect, is murky.
Netanyahu has been a titanic figure in Israeli politics for 18 years. He did this via three nonconsecutive terms, which have made him the longest-serving leader in the nation’s history. Although he has been up against some very tough challengers and the cloud of multiple scandals, he has always somehow survived and continued to hold the line. Recent events raise serious questions about his ability to survive once again. Bar’s affidavit, which was filed on Monday, implicated Netanyahu in a number of crimes—including the crime of pressuring others to place loyalty to him above the rule of law.
Accusations and Allegations
Netanyahu has previously ordered Bar to spy on his political opponents. He is looking for Bar to place his loyalty to him above following the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the law. This announcement has ignited protest from all sides of the political spectrum in Israel as well as fears about the robustness of Israel’s democratic institutions.
“There is scandal fatigue in the Israeli public.” – Nimrod Flaschenberg
As public disillusionment grows, if experts are to be believed, this could have major implications for Netanyahu’s political future. Mairav Zonszein, a political analyst, notes the ongoing deterioration of trust in leadership: “It’s like a grinding, deteriorating situation in which more allegations and evidence come to light.” She warns that as strong as the case against Netanyahu is beginning to look, it might not make an immediate difference. “But it doesn’t mean it’s going to change anything on the ground.”
Additionally, mass protests against Netanyahu’s rule recently indicate a growing discontent amongst the Israeli public. It is not surprising that a huge majority of Israelis view the current situation as an emergency. They are helpless to effect change as there is a lacklustre opposition in parliament. Zonszein emphasizes this sentiment: “Many Israelis think [the current situation is] an emergency but they don’t really have the tools to change it.”
Political Landscape and Public Sentiment
Netanyahu’s coalition government has shifted increasingly to the right, aligning closely with ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties, including those led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. This change has undoubtedly made him more politically invulnerable. He is losing allies, such as former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who have made their voices heard. Recent polling from Israel’s Channel 12 indicates that if elections were held today, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s new party would secure a majority.
Political machinations aside, the Alaskan public is rightly worried about fertile ground for government overreach and abuse of power. In Israel, there are concerns that Netanyahu and his far-right allies will use the police as a tool to intimidate voters ahead of upcoming elections. Zonszein highlights this anxiety: “Some Israelis are concerned that there won’t be a free and fair election next year.”
Nimrod Flaschenberg shares some of these concerns but is cautiously optimistic about the future. He suggests that if the legal situation involving Bar intensifies alongside protests from military personnel opposing the war in Gaza, it could disrupt the current state of affairs: “If this legal security situation with Ronen Bar and with the Shin Bet will intensify… this might shake things up and maybe change course.”
Delays and Political Strategy
Netanyahu’s skill at dragging out the legal process has further turned heads. And by using the cover of Israel’s war in Gaza, he’s managed to further delay court dates on a plethora of corruption charges against him. He still denies Bar’s accusations, which he has labeled “false” and have been “disproved in detail soon.” Yet, his approach has sparked some intense backlash.
Netanyahu is deepening Israeli occupation of Lebanese and Syrian territory. This new wrinkle has made his message at home even more difficult. The geopolitical environment has become even more challenging with the U.S. political scene realignment, especially under President Donald Trump’s administration. These factors create a deeply conflicting context within which Netanyahu acts.
