Netanyahu’s Impact on Israeli Institutions Amid Election Campaign

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has significantly reshaped the country’s institutions and political dynamics throughout his extensive career. As he campaigns for re-election ahead of the October 27 polls, analysts highlight his lasting impact on Israel’s rightward shift and the militant opposition he now confronts.

Netanyahu first entered Israeli politics in the early 1990s and quickly gained notoriety for his criticism of proposed peace deals with Palestinians and Syrians. Some political leaders have attributed the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 to Netanyahu’s inflammatory rhetoric during his rallies, where demonstrators depicted Rabin negatively. While Netanyahu denies any connection, reports suggest that former security officials warned him to temper his language.

He first became prime minister in 1996, establishing a transactional political style that empowered far-right and religious factions now integral to his coalition. Under his leadership, religious courts have gained expanded authority, with significant state funding directed toward ultra-Orthodox schools and institutions.

Significant changes under Netanyahu’s governance include the 2018 Nation-State Basic Law, which emphasizes Israel as a state for the Jewish people and prioritizes the advancement of illegal settlements. This legislation has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who claim it exemplifies Israel’s apartheid policies against Palestinians. In legal challenges, the High Court rejected petitions to halt its implementation.

Netanyahu has also influenced Israel’s security structures, favoring loyalists in key positions and often clashing with officials he deemed unsupportive. Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, he faced blame for security lapses, leading to a defamation lawsuit from a former chief of the Shin Bet.

His tenure has also been marred by corruption allegations dating back to 2019, with ongoing judicial proceedings that could potentially lead to prison time. Recently, he modified the Judicial Selection Committee’s composition to enhance political sway over judicial appointments, which opponents labeled as an attempt to undermine judicial independence. This move ignited widespread protests.

These challenges have not deterred Netanyahu’s allies, who consider him a decisive leader, while critics are eager to reverse the institutional changes he has enacted. They point to deepening social divides and Israel’s deteriorating international standing as byproducts of his administration.