Netanyahu’s Legacy: A Broken Right, a Stronger Hamas, And Iran on the Verge of a Bomb

The Most Pivotal Period for Israel Since the Holocaust

Netanyahu’s tenure has left the Israeli right fragmented and powerless, its ideological backbone shattered. Figures like Smotrich and Ben Gvir, once vocal champions of conservatism, have been relegated to irrelevance. The very forces that claim to uphold nationalist values have, in reality, enabled leftist policies to thrive—allowing judicial overreach and Hamas’s resurgence to define Israeli politics.

To grasp the gravity of this moment, one must recognize that Israel’s political adversaries are not as distinct as they appear. Hamas, the judiciary, and Likud have evolved into interwoven forces, each sustaining the dysfunction of the other. Netanyahu’s leadership has become a self-perpetuating cycle: weakening the right, enabling the left, and preserving a stagnation that benefits only those who seek to erode Israel’s sovereignty.

Recent events, broadcast live for millions to witness, have peeled back the facade. The supposed dichotomy between the Supreme Court and the ruling coalition is an illusion. In practice, their coexistence ensures that no real change occurs. While Netanyahu’s allies decry judicial overreach, his continued rule cements the court’s unchecked influence. While the right-wing base demands security, his policies guarantee Hamas’s survival. This tangled web of mutual dependency has paralyzed Israel’s ability to act decisively.

The October 7 Reckoning That Wasn’t

The catastrophe of October 7 should have sparked a political awakening, but instead, it was met with evasion and excuses. Intelligence failures were merely a symptom of a larger, more dangerous disease: the prioritization of political survival over national resilience. Israel’s leadership, rather than taking bold corrective action, has opted for damage control—managing optics rather than addressing the existential threats looming over the country.

Perhaps the starkest illustration of this failure is the hostage deal. While families rejoiced at the return of their loved ones, few acknowledged the devastating price: the release of seasoned terrorists who will, without a doubt, return to the battlefield. The cycle of violence has been given new life, and the illusion of a moral victory masks a strategic disaster.

The Liri Elbag Dilemma: A Nation Unprepared

Liri Elbag, an IDF soldier who pleaded for her father’s help while in captivity, symbolizes a deeper crisis within Israel’s military doctrine. Her actions, as reported by Almog Boker, describing her initiating a video to usher her own father into action is unthinkable in previous generations of Israeli POWs, and reflects a shift in the culture of combat readiness. This moment forces difficult but necessary questions:

The hostage deal that saw her release, alongside dozens of others, was hailed as a humanitarian achievement. In truth, it was a concession that strengthened Hamas while reaffirming Israel’s reluctance to impose true consequences on its enemies. Thousands of radicalized, battle-hardened terrorists were given a second chance to orchestrate future attacks. The cost was not only military but psychological—the image of a desperate soldier pleading for family intervention undermines the IDF’s historical ethos of self-reliance and resilience.

Trump, Netanyahu, and the Waning Illusion of U.S. Support

The waning of Netanyahu’s influence extends far beyond Israel’s borders. Once a formidable player on the world stage, he now finds himself increasingly dismissed—even by his former allies. The decision to reopen diplomatic channels with Iran is not just a policy shift; it is a clear indication that Israel’s political leadership is no longer taken seriously.

The Republican Party, long a bastion of pro-Israel sentiment, is undergoing a transformation. Domestic priorities dominate the conservative agenda, and unwavering support for Israel is no longer a given. Those who continue to assume that Netanyahu holds sway over American policy fail to grasp the shifting tides of international politics. Israel must adapt or risk being left behind.

Channel 14: The Grand Deception of the Right

Channel 14, often hailed as Israel’s conservative media stronghold, has proven to be little more than a controlled opposition. While presenting itself as a champion of the right, it has, in effect, functioned as a gatekeeper—ensuring that any genuine right-wing critique of Netanyahu’s failures is stifled before it gains traction.

Rather than fostering an authentic ideological movement, Channel 14 serves as an echo chamber, reinforcing narratives that maintain Likud’s dominance while neutralizing real dissent. The illusion of a strong conservative voice prevents the emergence of alternative leadership and solidifies the stagnation of the right. By monopolizing right-wing discourse, the network paradoxically ensures that no meaningful opposition to Netanyahu can arise from within.

The Cycle of Concessions: A Nation in Retreat

History has shown that each concession made in the name of diplomacy only emboldens Israel’s adversaries. From the Oslo Accords to the withdrawal from Gaza, every act of perceived compromise has been met with escalating demands and renewed aggression. The pattern is clear: Israel gives, its enemies take, and the cycle repeats with increasing severity.

This reality is not confined to territorial concessions or military de-escalations. It is evident in the erosion of sovereignty within Israel’s own institutions. From Arab-controlled lands under Likud’s governance to Miri Regev’s traffic policies that disproportionately empower non-Jewish officials, the creeping loss of national control is unmistakable. The irony is undeniable—while Likud positions itself as the guardian of Israel’s identity, its policies steadily erode it.

The Urgency of Change

The headlines that followed the October 7 attacks should have signaled an inflection point in Israel’s trajectory. Instead, they have only served to reaffirm the entrenched failures of its leadership. The absence of decisive action reveals a government unwilling—or unable—to confront the existential threats it faces.

If Israel continues down this path, its vulnerability will only deepen. Without fundamental shifts in leadership, ideology, and strategy, the nation risks entrenching its own decline. The world is changing, and Israel’s political establishment must either adapt or perish.

To secure its future, Israel must do more than merely survive. It must break free from the illusions that have bound it for decades—the illusion of a functional right-wing, the illusion of unwavering American support, and the illusion that political survival is a substitute for national resilience. The time for half-measures and empty rhetoric is over. The time for bold, uncompromising leadership has arrived.