Netanyahu Fans the Flames of War Two Days Before Israel's Election - Israel Elections 2026
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seized on Friday's deadly shooting attack, in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded near Hebron in the West Bank, as if he had struck gold. Having, as of yet, failed to ignite the Iranian front ahead of Tuesday's election, he has no alternative but to make do with what he has.
Netanyahu is now trying to fan the flames in the West Bank and heighten the public's sense of a security emergency, while revealing more details of his grim vision for Israel under another four years of his leadership. He sees Israel becoming an isolated country, its economy increasingly cut off from the rest of the world and forced to make do with Iranian, North Korean or Russian-style schemes to somehow survive.
The shooting attack north of Hebron occurred before 7:30 A.M., as the Israel Defense Forces, deployed with no fewer than 28 battalions, seven brigade headquarters and two division headquarters throughout the West Bank, sent reinforcements along roads used by settlers. Two Palestinians from Hebron, armed with a rifle and a gun, shot conscripts of a new Home Front combat battalion. Five soldiers were wounded in the attack, which required the intervention of the battalion deputy commander and prolonged fighting, resulting in the death of the two terrorists.
The IDF was quick to issue a comment, saying that its forces had thwarted a larger attack targeting civilians. A relatively large quantity of ammunition was indeed found in the two Palestinians' car. It's possible that they noticed the reinforcement of troops in the area, realizing that they won't be able to reach an effective distance for close shooting at civilian vehicles. But the army's immediate statement was also used to justify its messaging: Soldiers are deployed there to physically protect citizens. In this way, the deployment of additional troops obviates the need – supported by many settlers – for unchecked violence by far-right activists.
The risk on the ground is clear, particularly in the West Bank, and all the more so on the eve of an election. But it's also worth remembering that the IDF is stretched to its limits, relies on reservists who will again serve around 100 days this year, and desperately needs an additional 10,000 to 20,000 combat soldiers – a reinforcement the government refuses to provide. Earlier this week, Netanyahu also promised the ultra-Orthodox parties the swift legislation of the so-called draft-evasion bill if he is elected.
Israeli officials told the media that the shooters north of Hebron were members of a Hamas-affiliated clan, suggesting that the group's leadership in Turkey or Gaza had instructed them to carry out the attack. Here, too, the speed with which the explanation was provided raises the suspicion that it had been prepared in advance as part of the election campaign.
The crux of the matter, however, lies in Netanyahu's behavior. The prime minister, who has barely visited the Gaza border communities since October 7, 2023, and has rarely bothered to attend military funerals since the war began, rushed to Hebron and posted a short campaign ad filmed there.
He pledged to implement "the successful offensive model we carried out in refugee camps inside the cities: The IDF will enter the neighborhoods from which the terrorists emerged, evacuate the residents, go from house to house and destroy the terrorist infrastructure."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and senior officials from the regional councils representing the settlements wasted no time calling for going a step further, demanding the violent dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of the "Gaza model" – that is, destruction and mass displacement of Palestinians across large areas of the West Bank.
On Saturday, the IDF reportedly blocked the entrances to several West Bank villages, and settlers established new outposts in its southern region.
The IDF is nevertheless trying to ease tensions, saying that "slogans are one thing and actions another." Meaning, the IDF's brass is aware of the attempt to exploit the recent deadly attack for political gain.
Super Sparta? Netanyahu's new apocalyptic idea
Mere hours after he visited Hebron, as part of an extensive round of interviews in which he has largely shunned the mainstream media, Netanyahu also appeared on TV10 Israel, a financial news outlet. Interviewer Roy Katz managed to elicit what may be the week's most interesting headline.
Netanyahu reiterated his claim that the era of U.S. security aid to Israel was over (this too, it appears, had happened on his watch, through no fault of his own, of course), adding to his grim forecast that mounting sanctions against Israel over its actions in the West Bank are impeding.
After pledging several months ago to turn Israel into a "Super Sparta" that would manufacture its own weapons and meet all its needs independently, Netanyahu floated a new idea: Israel would find workarounds through the cryptocurrency market to counter the threat of sanctions. He claimed he had even ordered an official review of the matter.
Economic analysts described this as a nightmare scenario and argued that Netanyahu's proposed solution was superficial and unrealistic. But the interview offered another glimpse into the prime minister's apocalyptic worldview: He is convinced that Israel is doomed to destruction without him, while hinting that it may meet the same fate under his leadership.
There was a time when such a statement by a sitting prime minister would have destroyed his chances in an election. It remains to be seen whether that will happen this time, but it'll be interesting to watch the stock market's reaction on Monday and see how Netanyahu's media cheerleaders try to downplay the scale of the storm he has unleashed.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump is being tested. The latter is frustrated by the ongoing war with Iran and the lack of a decisive victory, and is considering a renewed offensive alongside Israel, probably after the November 3 midterms, a week after the Knesset election.
Over the weekend, Iran reportedly tried to target senior U.S. officials, and the U.S. decided to evacuate diplomats' families from embassies across the Middle East.
Netanyahu's rivals for the premiership have barely addressed his efforts to reignite the Iranian front as quickly as possible, apparently for fear of appearing defeatist. The IDF General Staff did what it could to prevent a strike in Iran on the eve of the Knesset election, but it's doubtful whether it would feel confident enough to take a similar stand if an attack were ordered in the midst of negotiations to form the next coalition.
This means that on Wednesday morning, even if the opposition scores a clear victory over Netanyahu – a scenario that is anything but certain – we won't be out of the woods. There are many hurdles to clear, and Netanyahu shows no sign of being ready to leave the ring without a fight.