These elections are not just about Netanyahu - they are about the way Israel chooses to continue | Gershon Baskin
Dr. Gershon Baskin argues that the upcoming elections are not only about Netanyahu, but about the strategic question of the country's direction: continuing conflict management and political stagnation, or moving to a new strategy of security, responsibility, and a political settlement. The article links Netanyahu's policies to the October 7 debacle and warns against repeating that failure in the West Bank.
Dr. Gershon Baskin argues in an opinion piece that the upcoming elections are not just about Benjamin Netanyahu's trial or the judicial overhaul, but about the strategic question of the country's direction. According to him, the story begins on October 7, 2023, which was not only an intelligence failure but a catastrophic result of a political strategy. Baskin attributes to Netanyahu a consistent policy since 2009 to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, while preserving Palestinian division through Qatari money to Gaza. He claims this policy created the conditions that led to the disaster. Baskin notes that the Gaza war ended with a ceasefire in October 2025, but implementation of the American "Peace Council" plan is stalled due to Netanyahu's rejection. He warns against repeating that failure in the West Bank, citing 925 checkpoints, 34 new settlements approved in July, and 1,380 settler violence incidents in the first seven months of 2026. Baskin calls for a strategic vision of a political settlement, emphasizing the economic opportunity in the IMEC project.