Security dominates Israel's election campaign as Netanyahu faces October 7 criticism

Mixed · 2Israel votes in a general election on October 27, and both outlets describe national security as the dominant issue of the campaign. 1 2 Right · 1Arab News, citing AFP, reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made guaranteeing Israel's security his core doctrine, but that critics accuse him of failing to protect the country. He boasts in speeches that he has obliterated Israel's enemies since the October 7, 2023 attack. 1 Right · 1Last month, Israeli and US media reported that the UAE and Egypt had warned Netanyahu days before October 7 that Hamas appeared to be preparing a large-scale attack. Haaretz reported that he did not inform the security services. Netanyahu has categorically denied the claims. 1

Right · 1His main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, has said "He knew that something was about to happen". Eisenkot and other opponents want a state commission of inquiry into the lapses before October 7, which the government has so far resisted. 1 Right · 1An attack on a flydubai flight to Israel, foiled by the captain and passengers, has added to the criticism. Netanyahu welcomed the passengers at Ben Gurion airport, but Israelis have asked whether background checks were done on the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain. After critics called for Transport Minister Miri Regev to resign, Netanyahu ordered a security review of international flights to Israel. 1 Right · 1Analyst Michael Horowitz told AFP the criticism returns the campaign to Netanyahu's main weakness, confidence in his ability to protect Israelis. He said Netanyahu could still rally voters by claiming victory over Hamas and Hezbollah. Polls show his popularity waning slightly, and the race with Eisenkot is too close to call. 1

Centre · 1The National describes a debate in West Jerusalem attended by almost 300 members of the Anglo-Jewish community, with 10 candidates on stage. It says the panellists said little about the cost of living and nothing about the education crisis, and that the crowd cheered talk of security, enemies, settlements and defiance. 2 Centre · 1The loudest cheers went to Yishai Fleisher, a party colleague of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called Ben-Gvir "a hammer". The loudest jeer was for Moran Zer Katzenstein of The Democrats, who challenged audience members who appeared to support expelling Gaza's population; the audience then applauded at length when she said "You can clap if you think this is what Jewish morality is". 2 Centre · 1The National says Moishe Feiglin of Zehut recently called for the total expulsion of Gazans, and that his party could win five to six Knesset seats; it is allied with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party. Likud's Amichai Chikli accused Eisenkot of viewing Syria's president as an "opportunity". Naftali Bennett's party continues a steady decline in the polls. 2

Centre · 1The National notes the event was not representative: the two main ultra-Orthodox parties declined invitations, Israeli-Arab parties were absent, and the debate over ultra-Orthodox military enlistment got little attention. 2