Netanyahu’s legacy: Personality politics reshapes Israeli democracy

What the report says

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the opening session of Israel’s new parliament in Jerusalem on Tuesday to call for a national unity government, even as the opposition bloc with a majority of seats prepared to try to form one without him, according to Al Jazeera. The session quickly became combative, with heckling, walkouts and public exchanges between lawmakers and allies, underscoring the deep political tensions around the transition.

Al Jazeera reported that Netanyahu framed his appeal around security concerns, including Iran and the role of Palestinian citizens of Israel who sit in the Knesset. Opposition figures responded sharply, and Gadi Eisenkot, who has the first chance to build a government, later cancelled planned coalition talks with Netanyahu and said he was unfit for office. If a new coalition is assembled, Netanyahu could be pushed out of power while his corruption trial and possible scrutiny over the period before the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack continue.

The article places this confrontation in a broader pattern of Israeli politics becoming increasingly centered on individual leaders rather than party platforms. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera said Netanyahu has helped accelerate that shift, making politics more personal and polarised, while also contributing to a more populist style inside Likud and beyond. The report argues that even if Netanyahu loses office, the personality-driven politics associated with his long tenure are likely to remain a lasting part of his legacy.