Fear gives Netanyahu another chance

Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party capitalized on fears of a nuclear Iran and societal racism towards Arabs to secure electoral victory in Israel. In the lead-up to the elections, Netanyahu utilized fear tactics, including sharing AI-generated images of nuclear threats, to rally support. His campaign emphasized the existential threat posed by Iran while simultaneously stoking fears of Arab voter mobilization, which he claimed could 'steal' the elections. Despite losing some seats, Likud remained the largest party, benefiting from a demographic shift favoring right-wing voters. Analysts noted that fear-driven messaging effectively mobilized undecided voters, reinforcing Netanyahu's position as a dominant political figure in Israel.