Israel's next election campaign is underway, characterized by political defections, difficult coalition negotiations, and blatant appeals to ethnic exclusion. A large number of candidates are vying to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu, focusing on the security failures of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars. The election, constitutionally scheduled for this October, is shaping up to be a referendum on the prime minister's central argument: that only he can ensure Israel's safety. However, after two and a half years of intense conflict in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, this claim has lost its credibility. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are overextended, Iranian missiles have repeatedly struck the country, and much of the north, near the Lebanese border, is now largely uninhabitable. Furthermore, the regime in Tehran remains in power, and analysts believe it is more motivated than ever to acquire a nuclear weapon. "Israel has never been less secure," stated Israeli-American geopolitical analyst Shaiel Ben-Ephraim. "In a country obsessed with security, this is what matters." An Israeli activist wearing a mask of Benjamin Netanyahu and holding US dollars protests against the government and the ongoing war with Iran in Tel Aviv on May 2. Photo: AFPNearly two-thirds of Israelis believe Netanyahu should not seek re-election, according to recent opinion polls. This negative sentiment is driven not only by the intelligence failure of October 7 but also by the perception that he has deliberately prolonged the wars to avoid legal accountability, according to Middle East researcher Annelle Sheline.