The analysis scrutinizes Benjamin Netanyahu's family history, political path, and policy impact, highlighting controversial coalition ties and far-right connections. It explores his government's focus on judicial reforms, challenges such as corruption charges, and concludes by pondering Netanyahu's legacy in the context of the Gaza tragedy, underscoring the imperative for a fair resolution.

Benjamin Netanyahu, born in Tel Aviv in 1949, is touted as a scion of a family supposedly profoundly rooted in the history and development of the State of Israel. His father, Benzion Netanyahu, a historian and fervent Zionist, played a role in the revisionist Zionist movement led by Ze'ev Jabotinsky, which had its share of controversies. The Netanyahu family narrative often romanticizes Yonatan Netanyahu, Benjamin's older brother, who lost his life during Operation Entebbe in 1976. While his loss is considered significant, it's presented within a narrative that conveniently brushes over any potential critique. 
Benjamin Netanyahu's trajectory involves a seemingly dutiful replication of his family's chosen path. Serving in Sayeret Matkal, the elite special forces unit, is often presented as a badge of honor, but it raises questions about his political journey. The transition from military service to politics in Israel is not unique, but in Netanyahu's case, the critical examination of the consequences of this transition remains primarily overshadowed.
The ongoing events of brutality in Gaza today seem to be in line with the plans and promises that Netanyahu not only advocated but also preached and openly propagated during his election campaigns and subsequent public interactions. The unfolding situation appears to mirror the policies and strategies that Netanyahu strongly endorsed and actively disseminated, prompting scrutiny of the influence of his explicit declarations on the current human rights violations and atrocities in Gaza.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, now in his third term and extending his record as Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister to 16 years, is forming his sixth government with a distinctly hardline composition. This coalition is shaped through alliances with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, highlighting Netanyahu's commitment to establishing a legacy as a leader who leaves behind a new Israel.
The coalition agreements highlight critical priorities for the Netanyahu government. Notably, there is a focus on comprehensive judicial reform, including the passage of a High Court override law to reduce judicial checks on executive and legislative power. Additionally, the government has committed to expanding settlements, ensuring West Bank’s annexation, addressing the cost of living, and centralizing ultra-Orthodox control over state Jewish services.
While addressing the Knesset plenum (central and supreme authoritative body of the Knesset, Israel’s unicameral parliament) before the vote of confidence in December last year, Netanyahu outlined three top priorities: halting Iran's nuclear program, developing state infrastructure, and restoring internal security and governance.
Criticism within Netanyahu's party has surfaced, particularly regarding concessions made to allied parties, including the far-right Religious Zionist Party. This party, advocating and pressuring for settlement expansion and reforms that subordinate the judiciary, has secured significant ministerial appointments. Bezalel Smotrich, for example, is overseeing construction in the West Bank's Area C.
Another far-right ally, Otzma Yehudit, secured control over law enforcement and the border police, pushing for legislation to change soldiers' legal liability, inciting for the killing of Palestinians and labeling them as terrorists, and ban the Palestinian flag from state-funded institutions. Hussein al-Sheikh, the Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), tweeted in August 2023, “We call on the international community and international institutions to consider the party of the terrorist Itamar Ben Gvir as a terrorist party due to its personal and partisan history of inciting for the killing of Palestinians”. 
Ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism succeeded in securing promises related to welfare, religious benefits, and healthcare, further emphasizing their influence in shaping the government's agenda. Notably, the coalition intends to support Likud-led judicial reforms, signaling a broader effort to reshape the judiciary, including raising the bar for court interventions and changing the role of government legal advisers.
Leading the 37th government, Benjamin Netanyahu's immediate emphasis on hardline policies, controversial ministerial appointments, and the restructuring of key ministries raised considerable concerns among observers about the potential ramifications for Israel's domestic and foreign policies from the outset. The coalition's prioritization of comprehensive judicial reform, settlement expansion, and considerations of West Bank annexation has signaled a shift towards a more conservative and assertive stance from January 2023 onwards. 
The ministerial appointments made by Netanyahu, especially his alignment with far-right parties holding controversial views, have contributed to the complexities within the government's dynamics. The restructuring of ministries and the consolidation of power within specific factions raised concerns about the efficiency and coherence of policy implementation. It's noteworthy that ministries dealing with law, order, construction, and national security are currently under the control of extreme right-wing parties.
Observers, both supporters and critics, have expected and anticipated the impact of these decisions on the nature of Israel's governance, its relationships in the region, and its global standing during his leadership of the 37th government.

The ongoing events of brutality in Gaza today seem to be in line with the plans and promises that Netanyahu not only advocated but also preached and openly propagated during his election campaigns and subsequent public interactions.

Currently, Netanyahu's primary audience appears to be the Zionist intelligentsia, a select group whose support is crucial in cementing his legacy as the “Father of the New and Complete Israel." This strategic focus suggests an awareness of the importance of shaping a narrative that resonates within this specific intellectual and ideological community, perhaps as a means to secure a lasting and positive historical imprint on his leadership.
As the Netanyahu family's role in Israel's history is glorified, it's essential to peel back the layers and critically assess the nuanced impact of their legacy on their nation's ongoing journey.
An updated June 26, 2023 story by Yonette Joseph and Patrick Kingsley from The New York Times (NYT) reported that Benjamin Netanyahu was set to return as Israel's Prime Minister despite facing unresolved corruption charges. The article outlines the status of the corruption cases against Netanyahu, emphasizing the three cases (Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000) that involve allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. (Mr. Netanyahu was cleared in a fourth case, Case 3000, which concerned the government’s procurement of German-made submarines.)
The investigations into Netanyahu's conduct began in 2016, with the police formally recommending prosecution in February 2018. The trial started in May 2020, and it has faced delays, including interruptions due to a central witness' "personal reasons" in 2021 and the judge testing positive for COVID-19 in February 2023.
The journalists investigated and explained in the NYT that the charges in each case involved gifts from wealthy business people, a quid pro quo arrangement with a newspaper publisher, and alleged favors from a telecom mogul. It also delves into why Netanyahu did not resign, highlighting that Israeli prime ministers can remain in office until convicted. If convicted, Netanyahu could face several years in prison. However, some of his coalition partners intend to legalize the alleged crimes or end the trial altogether.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's prolonged tenure, marked by a political strategy that prioritized radicalism over diplomacy, has culminated in a devastating tragedy in Gaza. A year ago, Netanyahu confidently declared that he had "two hands firmly on the steering wheel." Still, the resulting government turned out to be the most radical and incompetent in Israel's history.
Netanyahu's approach of ruling out any political process in Palestine and asserting an exclusive Jewish right to all parts of the land of Israel had already set the stage for inevitable bloodshed. Even during the tenure of peace-seeking leaders like Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak, there was violence in Palestine. However, Netanyahu's reckless policies, which involved paying any price for coalition support, expanding illegal settlements, and sidelining moderate Palestinian leadership, created a volatile environment. The brutality displayed by Israel's hard power approach raises profound concerns about the appropriateness of their chosen path, leaving a dark stain that may endure for years.
Netanyahu's vision of "A 'New and Complete Israel' for Future Generations" and being remembered as the “Father of the Israeli Nation” neglects the complexity of historical grievances and geopolitics, relying on strategic posturing rather than genuine dialogue and negotiation. As his tenure concludes, the true impact of his legacy remains uncertain. There exists an open-ended question regarding how he will be remembered, with the possibility that, in the annals of history, he might be characterized by a significant portion of the global community as an exceptionally ruthless and heartless figure, perhaps even earning the label of the most sadistic.
As of January 24, 2024, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 25,700 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Israeli bombardment. The ongoing conflict has exacted a toll measured in countless precious lives, each loss resonating as a poignant reminder of the seemingly elusive resolution. The profound human cost serves as a compelling call for an immediate, compassionate, and just solution.

The writer is a global expert in competitiveness, risk, and development. He is also a prominent strategic communication specialist.
E-mail: [email protected] 
Twitter: @amirjahangir.