For nearly two decades, Benjamin Netanyahu has cultivated the image of “Mr. Security,” a leader uniquely qualified to navigate the volatile landscape of the Middle East. Yet, as we survey the ruins of our post-October 2023 reality, a chilling paradox emerges. The very strategies intended to ensure Israel’s survival have, in practice, transformed our existential security into a hostage of political survival. We have entered a “Perma-War Trap,” where the continuation of conflict is no longer a failure of policy, but the primary instrument of a premiership that has lost its way.

The Logic of Perpetual Crisis

In the early stages of his political career, Netanyahu’s “fortress Israel” mentality was, for many, a reassuring response to the instability of our region. However, this has morphed into something far more cynical: a reliance on chronic tension to forestall a domestic day of reckoning.

The evidence is in the methodology. By prioritizing “conflict management” over resolution, Netanyahu has successfully avoided the uncomfortable political choices that come with genuine........

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