Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a new document on Sunday outlining his vision for national security, calling for preemptive strikes and the establishment of buffer zones on the borders. The document comes amid Netanyahu's election campaign, as he continues to decline in opinion polls and recently admitted he is "very worried" and not confident about winning the Knesset race scheduled for the 27th of this month.
Document Content
The document consists of three pages, including the cover page, and identifies what he described as "the main threats facing Israel," along with 10 "central principles" of his security vision. In the introduction, Netanyahu argued that the October 7, 2023, attack required Israel to wage a wide war, claiming that through its military operations from the Gaza Strip to Yemen, and from Lebanon to Iran, it had averted what he described as an "imminent nuclear genocide threat."
Netanyahu pointed out that the war necessitated a redefinition of fundamental principles in Israeli security doctrine, foremost among them "prioritizing the prevention and attack of threats rather than containing and defending against them, including carrying out preemptive strikes against emerging threats." He also presented maps of what he called "regional alliances," claiming they include countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Iran.
Opposition Criticism
The publication of the document sparked sharp criticism from opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Gadi Eizenkot, who deemed it lacking a genuine security strategy and attempting to cover up the failures of Netanyahu's government, foremost among them the October 7, 2023, attack. In a post on the American platform "X," Lapid described the document as "superficial and strange, appearing as if it were written by a free version of an AI chat program."
For his part, Gadi Eizenkot, head of the opposition "Yesh Atid" party, described the document as "two empty pages filled with slogans," considering it to reflect the "strategic vacuum" left by Netanyahu. He stated that publishing it nine days before the elections, and three years after the October 7, 2023, attack, represents an attempt to divert attention from the government's failures.
Accusations of Manipulation
Eizenkot accused Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives, foremost among them eliminating the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, deterring "Hezbollah," and maintaining stability in the West Bank and internal unity. He added that this is Netanyahu's way: "manipulating consciousness, inciting fear, and attempting to divert attention from a series of lies and racism surrounding his election campaign."
Eizenkot pledged that the government the opposition seeks to form would prepare and approve an official strategy for Israeli national security within 150 days of taking power. These developments come ahead of the Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27, amid competition between Netanyahu and opposition parties to form the next government.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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