# Netanyahu's Security Legacy

> Netanyahu's hardline policies on Iran and Palestinians will shape Israel's security for decades.
- Title: Netanyahu's Security Legacy · Foreign Affairs | Shortify
- Summary: Netanyahu's hardline policies on Iran and Palestinians will shape Israel's security for decades.
- Keywords: bibi, netanyahu, israel, palestine, iran, military, two-state, gaza, west bank, settlements, hamas, Foreign Affairs
- Source: Foreign Affairs — https://foreignaffairs.com/israel/israel-netanyahu-made
- Author: Dalia Dassa Kaye
- Published: 2026-10-27T04:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: bibi, netanyahu, israel, palestine, iran, military, security, two-state, gaza, west bank, settlements, hamas
## Netanyahu's Political Dominance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dominated Israeli politics for four decades with a vision that rejects Palestinian statehood and prioritizes military confrontation with Iran.
## Palestinian Statehood Rejected
Netanyahu's policies have made Palestinian statehood a non-debatable issue in Israeli politics since his 1996 election victory.
## Gaza Campaign
Netanyahu presided over a three-year campaign of mass destruction and displacement in Gaza killing more than 70,000 Palestinians.
## West Bank Policies
Netanyahu accelerated settlement expansion and built a concrete wall in the West Bank that encroached on Palestinian territory.
## Iran Policy Shift
Netanyahu's government launched military strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025 and began a larger war targeting Iranian leadership in February 2025.
## Military Confrontation
Israel has escalated military actions against Iran and its proxies including strikes in Tehran and Beirut that killed Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
## Opposition's Stance
The opposition coalition led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid did not substantially depart from Netanyahu's positions on Palestinian statehood and Iran.
## Two-State Future
Netanyahu's policies have made the two-state solution impossible with Palestinians now focused on survival rather than statehood.
## Iran War Continues
Israel continues military operations against Iran including missile exchanges in April and October 2024.
## Settlement Expansion
Israeli settlers in the West Bank have attacked Palestinians with alarming frequency since the Oslo accords.
## Military Strategy
Netanyahu's security vision has become institutionalized with future leaders coloring within lines he drew.
## No Palestinian State
No Israeli political leader speaks about ending Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank after October 7, 2023.
## Iran Policy Endures
Netanyahu's hardline stance on Iran remains consistent despite opposition from some Israeli officials.
## Military Confrontation
Israel has launched military attacks on Gulf Arab states including an airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders in September 2025.
## No Change in Policy
Even if Netanyahu loses power, Israel's security approach remains unchanged with settlement expansion and military confrontation continuing.
## No Path to Peace
There is no clear path to the two-state future Netanyahu has been determined to avoid after October 7, 2023.
## Key takeaway

Netanyahu's rejection of Palestinian statehood and military confrontation with Iran have become permanent Israeli security norms.