How Netanyahu survived another tumultuous year

Summary

Consider This from NPR: How Netanyahu Survived Another Tumultuous Year
Release Date: December 19, 2024
Host: Juana Summers
Reporter: Daniel Estrin

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Introduction: A Year of Crisis and Contention

In the tumultuous year leading up to the end of 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has navigated through a maelstrom of political, military, and legal challenges. From a devastating attack by Hamas to widespread protests against judicial reforms, Netanyahu's tenure has been marked by significant upheaval. Despite these obstacles, he remains a dominant figure in Israeli politics. This episode of NPR’s Consider This delves into the factors that have allowed Netanyahu to maintain his grip on power amidst adversity.

Initial Crisis: The October 7th Hamas Attack

The year began under a shadow of crisis when Hamas launched a ferocious attack on October 7th, breaching Israel's border with Gaza. This assault resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of over 250 hostages, marking the deadliest day in Israeli history.

Daniel Estrin recounts the immediate aftermath:

“I remember the night of October 7th, the attack. I met a father in a hospital. He was looking for his missing daughter. Turned out later we learned she had been killed.”
[04:09]

The magnitude of this security failure sparked intense backlash against Netanyahu, with public opinion polls showing that 76% of Israelis initially called for his resignation.

Protests and Judicial Overhaul: Erosion of Public Support

Beyond the immediate fallout from the Hamas attack, Netanyahu's political standing had been under siege since the summer of 2023. His proposal to overhaul Israel’s judicial system ignited massive protests, drawing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to the streets. These demonstrations were a direct response to Netanyahu's attempts to reshape the judiciary, a move that many perceived as a threat to democratic checks and balances.

Furthermore, Netanyahu's coalition with far-right ultra-nationalists amplified public discontent. The precarious nature of this alliance led to chants of "weak" as he was sworn into office, highlighting the fragility of his governance.

Adding to his woes, Netanyahu has been grappling with corruption charges since 2019. These allegations culminated in his court appearance in December 2024, where he has vehemently denied the charges, labeling them as “absurd” ([00:51]).

Netanyahu's Resilience: Deflecting Blame and Military Successes

Despite the significant opposition, Netanyahu has managed to sustain his leadership. Daniel Estrin explains the strategies behind his resilience:

“He's deflected blame and he's put all the focus on Hamas and he has directed all the focus away from him.”
[05:00]

Netanyahu has capitalized on military victories, portraying himself as a stalwart defender of Israel. Under his leadership, Israel has seen the degradation of Hamas and Hezbollah, the elimination of their leaders, and military actions against Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. These actions have been instrumental in crafting a narrative of strength and resurgence.

Moreover, Netanyahu has leveraged the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant as a tool to rally nationalist sentiments within Israel. The ICC is largely viewed as biased against Israel, thereby minimizing the impact of the warrant on his domestic standing.

Current Political Standing: A Polarized Nation

Despite Netanyahu’s efforts, his popularity has seen a modest rebound, stabilizing between 30-40% support. This figure represents a recovery from the plummet following the October 7th attack but remains below pre-crisis levels.

Public dissatisfaction persists, evidenced by ongoing protests and accusations that Netanyahu prioritizes his political survival over critical issues such as the release of hostages held by Hamas. Many citizens blame him for obstructing potential deals that could secure the hostages' freedom, attributing these blockages to pressure from his far-right coalition partners who threaten to withdraw support otherwise.

An insightful comparison was drawn by Israeli American pollster Dalia Sheindlin, likening the current situation to the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War fifty years ago when Prime Minister Golda Meir resigned amidst large-scale protests and a sense of collective responsibility:

“Netanyahu does not share that sense of responsibility over accountability.”
[07:18]

This stance contrasts sharply with historical precedents, highlighting Netanyahu’s reluctance to step down despite significant pressure.

Legal Battles: Corruption Trials and Public Perception

Netanyahu's corruption trial, which reached a pivotal moment in December 2024, has not significantly dented his popularity. Instead, he has adeptly used the courtroom as a platform to bolster his image, portraying the charges as politically motivated attacks.

In a recent courtroom appearance, Netanyahu addressed the public:

“These charges, the corruption charges he's facing are frivolous... dealing with what really matters. I'm at the forefront of history in the Middle East.”
[07:30]

His decision to prioritize visits to Israeli troops over court proceedings further reinforces his image as a leader committed to national security over personal legal battles.

Conclusion: Netanyahu's Enduring Dominance

As the year concludes, Benjamin Netanyahu stands as a testament to political endurance in the face of multifaceted challenges. Through strategic deflection, military assertiveness, and controlling the narrative around his legal troubles, he has maintained his position as Israel’s Prime Minister. However, with public support hovering between 30-40% and ongoing protests, Netanyahu's future remains uncertain. The comparison to Golda Meir’s resignation suggests that history may yet have more to unfold for Israel's longstanding political figure.

NPR’s Daniel Estrin provides an in-depth analysis from Tel Aviv, offering a nuanced understanding of Netanyahu's complex political landscape.

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Notable Quotes:

• Daniel Estrin on the initial attack and its impact:
  “I remember the night of October 7th, the attack. I met a father in a hospital. He was looking for his missing daughter. Turned out later we learned she had been killed.”
  [04:09]

• Daniel Estrin on Netanyahu’s deflection of blame:
  “He's deflected blame and he's put all the focus on Hamas and he has directed all the focus away from him.”
  [05:00]

• Dalia Sheindlin on Netanyahu’s accountability:
  “Netanyahu does not share that sense of responsibility over accountability.”
  [07:18]

• Daniel Estrin on the corruption trial’s impact:
  “These charges, the corruption charges he's facing are frivolous... dealing with what really matters. I'm at the forefront of history in the Middle East.”
  [07:30]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for those who have not listened to the original podcast.

Transcript

[Juana Summers]

At the start of this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was facing a crisis. Just a few months before, Hamas had breached Israel's border with Gaza, killing some 1200 people in Israel on October 7 and taking more than 250 hostages back into Gaza. It was a massive security failure, the deadliest day for Israelis in the country's history. Calls for Netanyahu's resignation began within weeks. Here's a press conference from October 30th of last year.

[Daniel Estrin]

It seems that the level of support that you have amongst the Israeli public has dropped considerably. So the question is, how can you continue to lead this country effectively during a very difficult time? And have you at all considered stepping down? The only thing that I intend to have resign is Hamas. We're going to resign them to the dustbin of history.

[Juana Summers]

By January, he was staring down headlines like Netanyahu's Collapsing Support. Can Netanyahu Survive Israel's War with Hamas? And fan and foe agree, Netanyahu's reign won't last. And it wasn't just October 7th that was stoking calls for his ouster. Ingrid Netanyahu had been brewing since the summer of 2023, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis marched in protest of his plan to overhaul the country's judicial system. This was after he was forced into a governing coalition with far right ultra nationalists. His opponents in the Israeli parliamentary chanted weak as he was sworn in. And you can add to all that the corruption charges he has faced since 2019, which finally landed him in court this month. He's called the charges absurd and told NPR this in 2022.

[Daniel Estrin]

All politics is cruel. Israeli politics is crueler than most. I've been subjected, especially my family, to endless vilification because I keep winning elections.

[Juana Summers]

Consider this. Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to ring in the new year, the 18th time he'll do it as the prime minister of Israel. Despite a corruption trial, an international arrest warrant and a grinding war, Netanyahu is still on top of Israeli politics. From NPR, I'm Juana Summers.

[Eric Glass]

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[Daniel Estrin]

This is Eric Glass on this American life. We like stories that surprise you. For instance, imagine finding a new hobby and realizing to do this hobby right according to the ways of the masters, there's a pretty good chance that you're going to have to bend the law to get the materials that you need, if not break it. Yeah. To break international laws. Your life stories, really good ones. This American Life.

[Juana Summers]

It's Consider this from npr. Benjamin Netanyahu's year is ending in a courtroom. He is finally taking the stand to defend himself from those corruption charges. You might think that would be detrimental to his political career. But instead, Netanyahu looks stronger than he has since the war began. NPR's Daniel Estrin has been watching that trial and he has been watching Netanyahu for years. He joins us now to talk about the Israeli prime minister's year. Daniel, welcome.

[Daniel Estrin]

Hi, Awana.

[Juana Summers]

So, Daniel, if you could just take us back to the beginning of the war. How much pressure was Netanyahu facing to step down?

[Daniel Estrin]

He was facing a ton of pressure. I remember the night of October 7th, the attack. I met a father in a hospital. He was looking for his missing daughter. Turned out later we learned she had been killed. And that night he was saying Netanyahu's government was to blame. He said Netanyahu's government had weakened Israel because in the months before, there were these massive street protests against Netanyahu's plan to weaken the judiciary. And there were reservist soldiers who were even saying they refused to serve. And then after October 7, a poll found that about 76% of Israelis wanted Netanyahu to resign. And at that time, I remember speaking to analysts in the first month of the war who said there was no way Netanyahu's government could hold on. But here we are.

[Juana Summers]

Here we are indeed. So, Daniel, tell us, how is Netanyahu survived?

[Daniel Estrin]

He's deflected blame and he's put all the focus on Hamas and he has directed all the focus away from him. Now, the war that he is waging in Gaza has, of course, led to massive destruction, the killing of more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. It has drawn worldwide condemnation. The International Criminal Court has an arrest warrant out for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. But in Israel, first of all, the ICC is seen as anti Israeli by many. So those arrest warrants are not weakening him at home and on the battlefield. Netanyahu has a lot of successes. He is presenting to the Israeli public. Hamas has been severely degraded. Hezbollah in Lebanon has been beaten back. The leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah have been killed. Israel's moves have in part led to the fall of the Syrian regime. Today, Israel bombed the Houthis in Yemen. Israel has also bombed its arch enemy, Iran, in this war. So the narrative Netanyahu is presenting to Israel is he's led a historic comeback since the the weekdays of October 7th and the aftermath.

[Juana Summers]

And all of those military moves that you've just described, how are those playing out for Netanyahu's popularity in Israel?

[Daniel Estrin]

They've helped him, but only somewhat. He has regained all the support that he lost at the beginning of the war, but it's just brought him back to where he had been, which was not very popular. He only has about 30 or 40% support among the Israeli public today. Throughout the year, many Israelis have protested him in the streets. They have blamed him for blocking a deal to free the Israeli hostages in Gaza. They've blamed him for, they say, worrying more about his own political survival than freeing the hostages because his far right political partners in government have threatened to quit if he made a deal with Hamas. Despite all these protests in the streets, Netanyahu has simply dug in and he is not swayed by them. We have been speaking with an Israeli American pollster, Dalia Sheindlin, who has made this fascinating comparison to the last time Israel faced a surprising devastating attack. It was the yom Kippur War 50 years ago. And after the war, the prime minister, Golda Meir, resigned. Mass numbers of people went out, demonstrated.

[Juana Summers]

And she felt a sense of responsibility and resigned.

[Daniel Estrin]

Netanyahu does not share that sense of responsibility over accountability.

[Juana Summers]

And Daniel Netanyahu is also standing trial on corruption charges this month. Doesn't that also harm his popularity?

[Daniel Estrin]

It actually doesn't. His corruption trial is just another thing that Netanyahu is using to help shape his image right now. He was called to the stand this past week and he's kind of made a show out of it. The trial was even delayed a day because he, he went to go visit Israeli troops in Syria. So he's sending a message from the courtroom that these charges, the corruption charges he's facing are frivolous. I Netanyahu and meanwhile dealing with what really matters. I'm at the forefront of history in the Middle East.

[Juana Summers]

NPR's Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv. Daniel, thanks you're welcome. This episode was produced by Conor Donovan. It was edited by Carrie Khan and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Juana Summers.

[Conor Donovan]

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[Juana Summers]

Northwest icons in journalism. An evergreen story isn't tied to one news cycle. It goes deep and helps you understand the world. The Evergreen is also a podcast from OPB about the Northwest. I'm Jen Chavez. Listen to the Evergreen Podcast from OPD every Monday, part of the NPR Network.

[Eric Glass]

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