As if the wave of terror attacks is not bad enough, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also has to contend with growing political isolation.
As the Knesset began its long winter session this week, centre-left opposition leaders lined up to lambast him for failing to create a diplomatic situation which would have allowed Israel to negotiate with the Palestinians.
At the same time, he is coming under increasing pressure to authorise much tougher measures against the Palestinians from his colleagues in Likud and the coalition, along with Avigdor Lieberman's right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu.
Mr Netanyahu's problem is two-fold. After six and a half years he is now held responsible by the public as the main figure in Israel responsible for the lack of security, especially as he ran on an election platform promising just that.
