Will Netanyahu step down quietly like Hungary's Orbán? Hard to imagine – opinion

The article discusses the unlikelihood of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conceding defeat quietly, unlike Hungary's Viktor Orbán, despite similar polling deficits. The author suggests Netanyahu might employ various tactics to retain power if his bloc loses the upcoming election. These could include an all-out campaign against a "change government" reliant on Arab parties, efforts to disqualify Arab parties, or alleging widespread fraud in the vote count, similar to Donald Trump's response to the 2020 US election. The article also raises the possibility of a manufactured security crisis to shift public opinion or even a profound crisis to postpone elections, potentially involving incitement leading to Jewish-Arab violence. The author concludes that while it's irresponsible to claim Netanyahu plans such violence, it would be naive to ignore the potential for cynical political actors to benefit from chaos, urging Israel's democratic camp and the president to remain vigilant.