This story originally appeared in the JC Israel Briefing. You can sign up to receive the briefing daily here.
Despite global condemnation of his leadership since October 7, the Israeli premier has been placed among the world’s 100 most influential people in Time magazine.
The US publication says that despite fierce opposition before the war to his proposed judicial reforms, and facing criminal proceedings, his comeback shows the decades-long leader’s longevity.
“Like President Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu once faced the political wasteland: the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, left the Israeli Prime Minister responsible for the worst security failure in his country’s history. The political comeback he then engineered may have exceeded Trump’s own.
“Israel’s devastation of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, its crippling strikes alongside the US on Iran’s nuclear program in the 12-day War, and the eventual extraction of all remaining hostages from Gaza have boosted his standing with the Israeli public,” his profile says.
It notes the complexities facing his tenure, which even led to allegations of war crimes by the International Criminal Courts. “This same legacy may also poison international attitudes toward his country.
“The staggering human toll in Gaza, ongoing West Bank settlement expansion, another incursion into Lebanon and a darkening war with Iran, eroded support among younger Americans – even as Washington remains Israel’s indispensable security partner.
“More chapters will soon be written, but Netanyahu has yet to resolve the tension at the centre of his comeback: the actions that saved him politically will also define – and complicate – his legacy.”
This story originally appeared in the JC Israel Briefing. You can sign up to receive the briefing daily here.
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