Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a new national security doctrine just nine days before the country’s October 27 parliamentary elections. The three-page document, published on the government's official website, outlines 10 principles intended to overhaul military strategy. Netanyahu argues that recent military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen have successfully dismantled what he described as an Iranian-led encirclement and mitigated the risk of nuclear annihilation, justifying a shift from defensive containment toward preemptive action.
The doctrine advocates for a range of initiatives, including preemptive military strikes against perceived threats, enhanced intelligence gathering, and the establishment of buffer zones along Israel's borders when deemed necessary, though it offers no specific details on locations or impacted neighboring territories. Additional priorities listed in the document include the advancement of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, the promotion of domestic arms production, and the expansion of illegal settlements across what the Prime Minister refers to as the "Land of Israel."
The release drew sharp criticism from political opponents. Opposition leader Yair Lapid ridiculed the document as "superficial" and "bizarre," remarking that it appeared as if it were drafted by the free version of an AI chatbot. Lapid further highlighted what he described as contradictions in Netanyahu’s platform, specifically citing the current military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, the deterioration of foreign relations, and the Prime Minister’s ongoing refusal to establish an official commission of inquiry into the security failures of October 2023.
Former military chief and Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot also condemned the publication, characterizing it as "empty pages filled with slogans" that reflect a "strategic vacuum." Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of manipulating public fear for electoral gain, noting that Hamas remains active in Gaza while Hezbollah continues to rebuild in Lebanon. He pledged that an opposition-led government would move to approve a formal national security strategy within 150 days of taking office.
