Staff Reports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to send a clear warning shot, drawing parallels between the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and potential threats against himself. Netanyahu, not mincing words, has pointed out the dangerous incitement being fueled against elected officials, including his own family, while lamenting that no one seems to be taking any corrective action.
At a Cabinet meeting that saw his team present a video of various calls for incitement against him, Netanyahu took the opportunity to chastise the attorney general for allowing threats to persist, especially as tensions over the hostages taken by Hamas escalate. With widespread anxiety and anger brewing in Israel, Netanyahu strategically painted a scary picture—one only amplified by a failed attack on Trump in Pennsylvania.
The real boiling pot in Israel is the volatile situation with the hostages. Any move, or lack thereof by Netanyahu, is bound to be scrutinized heavily. Some analysts argue that Netanyahu’s handling—or mishandling—of the hostage situation is making him a target for criticism, much like the left-wing mobs aim their vitriol at Trump. The recent ceasefire and hostage release negotiations seem to have everyone pointing fingers, with hostilities against ministers and high-ranking officials bubbling just beneath the surface.
Netanyahu says he could be targeted for Trump-style assassination attempt https://t.co/uHPqWvreq2
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 16, 2024
This budding conflict is exacerbated by an ongoing judicial power struggle, drawing even more comparisons with the Trump ordeal. Netanyahu’s allies are keen on altering the power balance between the Supreme Court and the legislature, something not all too dissimilar from Trump’s battles against a seemingly weaponized judiciary. Netanyahu’s supporters are adamant that the judicial system is biased against him, a belief that finds resonance among Trump’s base.
Netanyahu’s bold references to protesters blocking highways with fire and his claims of political murder being normalized are a direct rebuke of the attorney general. He hints that the current climate in Israel is ripe for violence, much like the ideological cesspools that spawned attacks in the United States. Yet his political opponents, unsurprisingly, accused him of drama and sensationalism.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid took the opportunity to label Netanyahu as a self-obsessed, failed leader who should retire from politics, portraying Netanyahu’s insight as little more than a self-serving stunt. Despite the vitriol, there’s a stark historical resonance—Israelis still remember the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin, an act by a hard-right opponent which echoes contemporary fears.
With threats of violence not being monopolized by either side, Netanyahu finds himself in a familiar spot—smeared from all directions. Months of painstaking negotiations with Hamas have led to little outcome, and U.S. officials cast blame primarily on Hamas for their stubbornness, even as efforts continue. Netanyahu’s shifting stance in talks is a strategic play to leverage Hamas’ weakness, but any gap between him and other security leaders widens as fast as one can blink.
Such disputes only serve to highlight the precariousness of Netanyahu’s situation. The political and social fissures in Israel suggest a country on edge, and Netanyahu sits right at its fault line. As long as hostages remain and incitement against officials prevails, the narrative will continue to draw uncomfortable parallels with situations far from Israel’s borders.
