Hooliganism won't save him: what Netanyahu didn't take into account

Nahum Barnea writes that Netanyahu's 'hooliganism' has stopped working: voters in the US and Israel have turned away from his aggressive style. The author criticizes the prime minister's warnings about 'fires' and notes growing disgust with such rhetoric in the media.

Political commentator Nahum Barnea analyzes Benjamin Netanyahu's defeat in the 2026 elections and his reaction. Barnea argues that 'hooliganism' — the aggressive, populist style that Netanyahu imported from the US — has stopped working. Voters, in his view, have grown tired of insults, lies, and corruption when faced with real economic problems. The author criticizes Netanyahu's video address in which he predicted 'fires' on the streets if a government including Arab parties were formed, calling it intimidation and Islamophobia. Barnea notes that even in the media, rejection of such rhetoric is growing, citing scandals involving anchors Ayala Hasson and Eyal Berkovich. The article is an opinion column, not a news report.