One year of ultra-right government: Netanyahu is fighting on all fronts

Benjamin Netanyahu has been ruling Israel again for a year. With his judicial reform, he plunged the country into a crisis – and since the Hamas attack, he has had to ask himself whether he has neglected Israel’s security.

Before Benjamin Netanyahu took office on December 29, 2022, a year ago, and once again became Prime Minister, he had forged a coalition that had never been seen before in Israel: with ultra-religious and national-religious forces, with right-wing extremists, the important ones Ministerial positions were given to the political representatives of the radical settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Many goals announced

The first session of the Knesset was met with loud protests from the opposition. But Netanyahu tried to give the impression at home and abroad that he was in control. He presented himself as a statesman, even when he outlined his government’s goals at the first meeting with his cabinet: He announced that he would fight off Iran, because that was an existential question for Israel.

He also announced that he wanted to restore security and leadership in the state and address the cost of living and affordable housing. And finally, he wanted to, literally, “dramatically” expand the circle of states allied with Israel.

Restructuring of the judiciary

A year later, there isn’t much left of these goals. First of all, in terms of domestic policy, it became clear shortly after taking office what this government was actually about: Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced plans to restructure the judiciary. The goal: to limit the powers of the Supreme Court and to have more influence on the selection of judges. This was not least what Netanyahu’s religious coalition partners had demanded in order to pass more laws in their interests.

There were major concerns early on: Suzie Navot, a well-known constitutional lawyer in Israel, said this ARD Studio Tel Aviv, the reform is ultimately about the character of the country. Because it is difficult to find a compromise between a Jewish and a democratic state. A country that is 100 percent Jewish will not be democratic. And a 100 percent democratic country cannot be Jewish.

Months of protests

For the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who took to the streets to protest against the reform for months, week after week, the case was clear: they were very worried that Netanyahu’s government would undermine the democratic constitutional state and weaken the separation of powers. Netanyahu remained silent for a long time, gave a few reassuring interviews abroad and went on the attack at home, accusing the demonstrators of turning Israel into anarchy.

And then came October 7th, the attack on Israel by Hamas and other terrorist groups from the Gaza Strip. With over 1,200 dead and around 240 abducted.

Israel’s security neglected?

Questions quickly arose as to how this could be possible and whether the Netanyahu government had neglected Israel’s security in recent months. Since then, around 22,000 more people have died in the Gaza Strip – as have more and more Israeli soldiers. According to information from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which the United Nations, for example, considers plausible, there are more than 53,000 injured. Large parts of the Gaza Strip have now been completely destroyed.

And Netanyahu repeatedly emphasizes that the war will continue until complete victory, until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. According to the Israeli military, this could take months.

At the same time, Israel is threatened in the north by Hezbollah from Lebanon and rockets have already been fired from Yemen.

Two-state solution prevented

It is still unclear whether Netanyahu and his government will survive the Gaza war politically. The only thing that is certain is that he cannot be expected to find a solution to the Middle East conflict with a Palestinian state after this. He said a few days ago that he was proud to have prevented a two-state solution.

If things go according to Netanyahu’s plan, elections in Israel will not take place again until the end of 2026. And everyone who knows him knows that he will fight for his office until the end and with all means possible. Whatever the cost. The fight has already begun.