Fuel for the Masses
Lior Ben Ami writes a political column about the 2026 elections, using the metaphor of discounted fuel to criticize Benjamin Netanyahu and the electoral system. The column reviews past election promises, the security situation, the economy, and society, offering a skeptical view of the renewed campaigns.
Lior Ben Ami writes a sharp political column about the 2026 elections, using the metaphor of discounted fuel as a parable for the political situation. The column opens with a description of a gas station where the price dropped ahead of the elections, and continues with harsh criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he calls 'the most dozing prime minister in Israel's history.' Ben Ami reviews the grandiose promises of the previous 2022 elections and points out the gap between promises and reality: Hamas remains in Gaza, the cost of living has not decreased, the shortage of fighters continues, and the diplomatic collapse has not been halted. The column sharply criticizes Netanyahu's past slogans ('Go out. Vote. Win', 'Netanyahu. A strong right for four years') and notes they were not fulfilled. It extends criticism to other parties: Smotrich, Lapid, Shas, and Gantz, pointing out their failures. Ben Ami argues that the new campaigns cannot hide the failures, and that the public can only console itself with cheaper fuel—at least until the elections.