The recent failure of the Hamas rocket attacks against Israel has once again highlighted the precarious political position of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For many observers, the events of the past few days have served to further underline the rapidly deteriorating situation in Israeli politics, with Netanyahu’s term in office nearing its end amid growing calls for his resignation.
The security situation in Israel has been steadily worsening for some time, with the failure of the Hamas rockets to reach their intended targets the latest indicator of a rapidly deteriorating situation. It is clear that the Israeli military was stretched to its limits in defending against the barrage and although few civilian casualties were reported, the psychological impact of the rocket attacks can hardly be overlooked.
This latest incident is just one example of a long-running pattern of insecurity, with the Israeli government unable to ensure the safety of its citizens from those residing in neighboring countries or even within its own borders. Netanyahu has long been criticized for his approach to security, with the recent Gaza-Israel conflict and its resulting humanitarian crisis adding further fuel to the debate.
Israel’s history offers further evidence that Netanyahu’s tenure in office may soon be coming to an end. Netanyahu has faced numerous challenges – from corruption allegations to disagreements over the building of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories – yet despite this, he has remained in power, largely due to the support of his hardline Likud Party.
In recent months, however, this has changed, as Netanyahu has lost the support of key political allies, culminating in the recent election of a new president. While Netanyahu may be able to hang on to power for a while longer, it does seem that the clock is ticking for his tenure at the head of the Israeli government.
The recent failure of Hamas’ attacks is a further reminder of the pressing need for a new direction in Israeli politics, one which offers real solutions to the insecurity that plagues the country. With the country now poised at a crossroads, it seems that Netanyahu may now have run out of options and it may well be time for him to give way to a new leader.