The Likud primary: Trolling as a way to gain support – opinion

The Likud primary has become a grotesque competition, with AI-generated campaign songs from Israel Katz and Yoav Kisch. The column criticizes a political culture that favors projection over results, citing hard data: 968 soldiers killed, 26,200 wounded, 309 murdered, and 268,509 Israelis who left. The author argues Netanyahu built the incentives for this trollization.

Israel's governing-party primary has become a competition for grotesquerie, with candidates like Defense Minister Israel Katz using AI-generated campaign songs ('Boom, boom, boom') and Education Minister Yoav Kisch joining the trend. The author argues this trolling is a strategy for recognition in a crowded field, as serious arguments cannot travel through WhatsApp groups like viral clips. The column contrasts this spectacle with the government's record: the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust occurred on its watch, and after almost three years of war, 'total victory' is difficult to identify. It cites figures: 968 soldiers killed since October 7, 26,200 wounded, 309 murders in 2025, food prices 37% above OECD average, and 268,509 Israelis leaving the country between 2023-2025. The author criticizes Netanyahu for building the incentives that reward trolling, and notes his fear of the 'trollization' of Likud's top 10, leading to reserved slots. The column concludes that the primary offers a compact portrait of Israeli politics in 2026, with a government skilled at projecting power but less convincing on delivery.