Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may not have changed, but he sounds different in both tenor and tone compared to the four previous election campaigns Israel has had since 2019.
Just over a year has gone by since he was unseated and became head of the opposition, but it looks like he is not the same candidate as before. During his time out of government, he has managed to complete writing his autobiography (coming out in a few weeks), he had a lot of free time to meet with people he could barely see during his busy 13-year premiership as prime minister – and he has also gotten a better feel for the public sentiment; this year has made him listen to wishes of the electorate that lie beyond his lineup of advisers and heavy security detail.
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Netanyahu continues to point out his accomplishments as prime minister everywhere he goes and attacks his rivals nonstop. But unlike previous campaigns, he is now much more willing to share the success with others; his criticism of people is also much less inflammatory, and more professional.
Cynics will be quick to say that nothing has really changed. Netanyahu, they would claim, has realized that the only thing keeping him from returning to power is the "soft-Right" voters who disavow his radical statements and the mob of foul-mouthed supporters who stick with him and often use vile rhetoric. The cynics would say that Netanyahu has remained the same cynical political figure who panders to voters. They would argue that Netanyahu has realized that what he once considered to be a recipe for success – attacking the Left with harsh soundbites – had simply run its course and that now it is better for him to stick to a clean campaign and stay above the fray. Whatever you think of this, it is a valid course of action, especially when it comes to the slickest politician in Israel who will stop at nothing to win back the premiership.
Regardless of what prompted this shift, everyone was shocked when Netanyahu was so contrite and introspective when he met supporters in a small meeting. Whether or not this was a true effort to atone as part of the holiday spirit or just an electoral gimmick, no one could imagine him saying these words; even those closest to him such as MK Yariv Levin who was just next to him, who could not hide surprise upon hearing Netanyahu's comments, especially on the mistakes he admitted he made as prime minister.
It all started when someone in the crowd asked Netanyahu whether he has learned something new in his time out of office and whether he would act differently if he got another shot at the helm. "Of course," Netanyahu responded. "I would come back as prime minister with many more insights; with more patience and humility." Netanyahu added, "This period [away from the job] taught me to consult with people and learn from them; to listen even to those whom I do not appreciate but can still glean some insights from. I became more humble, more open, and accepting."
Netanyahu also added, "This past year has given me time, time to look inwards; you learn about yourself and there are always conclusions. You learn about the mistakes you made, and perhaps on how to be more accepting of people." Netanyahu explained that this was "also evident in the work I did together with my friends Yariv, Idit, and Amichai (referring to candidates aligned with or in Likud who were also present in the event). Our work together had us listen to one another and consult each together all the time, not just for show but with real intent, to learn. And this is perhaps the most important thing: Listen to others; you can learn from that. Even people that you do not hold in high regard, everyone has something – some hidden gem – that you can learn from."
The event where Netanyahu made those comments was a conference of religious Zionists in Modi'in, the first time he has participated in such a gathering during this campaign. Some 250 people were inside the venue, with another 150 at the gate because of a lack of space. There were many Netanyahu detractors in the crowd –those who see themselves as part of the Right but prefer to vote for Ayelet Shaked's merged Habayit Hayehudi list and even for Defense Minister Benny Gantz's party.
Netanyahu's moderate posture was also evident when he was asked on national security matters. "My conservatism applies to the pointless sacrifice of our soldiers' lives; I have seen bereaved mothers over the years, and while this doesn't mean we should shy away from making a sacrifice when necessary, when it's not you don't. My brother [Yoni Netanyahu, who died in the 1976 Entebbe raid] told me that a good commander completes missions with minimum casualties; a bad commander does not complete the mission and sacrifices many soldiers."
Netanyahu offered some advice: "The first test is 'Don't just have people killed or get dragged into pointless wars. Don't enter traps that would cost you a heavy price in human lives.".
Netanyahu's newly found posture and the quest to win over this crowd will be part of the final weeks of the campaign as he meets religious Zionists in Petah Tikva, Givat Shmuel, Ra'anana, Rehovot and other bastions of that sector. Netanyahu is not going to let Shaked rise in the polls, hoping she will eventually drop out or at the very least not get a meaningful share of this constituency.
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