Israel's political landscape shaped by continuous warfare

Analysis suggests that in Israel, politics has become an extension of warfare rather than the reverse. The ongoing state of conflict serves to define the boundaries of public life and shapes the political landscape, with the Knesset increasingly influenced by military and extremist perspectives.

Historically, successive Israeli governments have utilized permanent emergency states to unify domestic ranks and suppress opposition, often prioritizing national security over social justice or identity issues. This pattern is seen as a method for leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, to maintain political legitimacy through new combat arenas.

Even past peace agreements are viewed through this lens of military calculation. The 1979 Camp David Accords with Egypt are described as a strategic move to neutralize the Egyptian front rather than a desire to end conflict. Similarly, the Wadi Araba treaty with Jordan and the Oslo Accords are characterized as security-focused arrangements that failed to address settlement expansion or the end of occupation.