Benjamin Netanyahu: The Engineer, the umbreمla, and the “Propulsion Power”?

Benjamin Netanyahu has written several books in which he addressed what he called the issues of “extremism” and “terrorism,” especially in his book “A Place Among the Nations” and his book “Fighting Terrorism,” in which he presented his vision of global extremism and terrorism, and linked it directly to political Islam and “extremist” thought that threatens—all of which, according to his opinion—global security!! In his book “A Place Among the Nations,” Netanyahu presents his vision of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and justifies Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians by portraying them as an existential security threat, linking Palestinian “extremism” to the ongoing opposition to the existence of the “State of Israel,” and calling for the use of force to preserve “Israel’s” security against what he considers “extremist forces” that seek to destroy it. Netanyahu also focuses in the same book on his strong rejection of the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, considering them a threat to the security of the Zionist state and its position in the region, emphasizing that any concession of the occupied territories to the Palestinians (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) poses an existential threat to the Jewish state. Accordingly, he is adamant in his rejection of the "two-state solution" that was the focus of the Oslo Accords (despite the different concepts regarding this "solution"). This book is considered a document that reflects Netanyahu's right-wing ideas not only regarding Palestine, but also includes his hostile positions towards the Arab world, specifically towards Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Golan Heights, Jerusalem and the Palestinian refugees, ideas that today form the basis of his current extremist government coalition.

In his book, “Fighting Terrorism,” Netanyahu stresses the need to confront Islamic extremism, which he sees as linked to several countries and organizations such as Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, which requires the establishment of an Arab coalition led by the United States to fight these countries and forces. However, his critics - even from the West - see that this vision is often biased, as he links extremism to the Islamic religion in general! They also accuse him of ignoring the political and social reasons that drive some to (extremism), and of betting only on military and security solutions. In addition to focusing on external “terrorism,” Netanyahu addresses (terrorism) within Israel, but he reinforces the idea that the main danger comes from abroad, especially from extremist Islamic groups, calling for confronting these challenges firmly.

As such, Netanyahu is one of the most prominent Israeli political figures who is subject to international criticism, due to his political extremism and chauvinistic nationalist tendencies that have been clearly reflected in his strategies and practices in recent years. Netanyahu has even formed (for reasons of interest, some of which are opportunistic) alliances with (more) extremist political forces on the Israeli scene, most notably the parties of Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, noting that the latter two are known for their extremist tendencies against the Palestinians and their calls to annex the entire West Bank to Israel and return settlements to Gaza.

Netanyahu, the eternal aspirant to power, is always looking for political alliances to form his governments, and it is no wonder that he has provided a political “umbrella” for many figures labeled as terrorists (inside and outside Israel). Through his alliance with them, Netanyahu has contributed to normalizing their extremist ideas in Israeli public policy, which has led to the strengthening of the extreme right-wing discourse within Israeli society…which is, in fact, Netanyahu’s real discourse. Therefore, the latter has always played a major role in undermining the Oslo Accords/Understandings and rejecting any negotiations with the “terrorist Palestinian Authority,” while expanding the construction of colonies/settlements in the West Bank, rejecting any settlement with the Palestinians based on concessions of land. This thought (inherited from his father) is at the heart of his strategy and has become a constant part of his policies.

In parallel with his extreme right-wing policies, it can be said that Netanyahu was not just an extremist leader, but rather the “architect” who made Israel move towards greater extremism by deepening the gap between Israelis and Palestinians, and later through his alliance with Smotrich and Ben-Gvir (which is an ideological alliance from beginning to end) and not limited only to opportunistic considerations to ensure his rise and stay at the top of power! Rather, Netanyahu - through what is stated in his books and policies - adopts and possesses an extremist ideological (umbrella) under which the thinking and positions of Smotrich, Ben-Gvir and their likes are included.

The only difference between him and them is that their starting point is "messianic religious" while his starting point is "chauvinistic nationalist"! As such, Netanyahu embodies the "propellant energy" that fuels the contemporary Israeli "battleship of extremism". The sure witness to his right-wing nationalist rage and his "adherence" to his fascist statements is evident in his books and lectures, whether since his early youth or in his current policies and approaches.