A Hezbollah drone targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea has stirred not only concerns about security but also a wave of political disputes and online mockery. Despite the seriousness of the attack, which occurred on Saturday, the conversation quickly turned into a debate over Netanyahu’s handling of the situation and his public image.
Netanyahu and his wife were not present during the attack, and no injuries were reported. The IDF stated that the drone was one of three launched from Lebanon, with two successfully intercepted. However, political leaders and social media commentators latched onto the incident to reignite personal criticism of the prime minister.
Netanyahu’s response to the incident highlighted it as an “assassination attempt on me and my wife,” a statement quickly supported by Shas party leader Aryeh Deri and his Likud party. They used the moment to criticize opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz for failing to condemn the attack. Likud’s statement framed their silence as a reflection of political pettiness.
Gantz and Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, accused Netanyahu of focusing more on his personal property than the broader security issues. This narrative was reinforced by the fact that property tax officials were seen visiting Netanyahu’s residence after the attack, a move that led some to question whether the prime minister was more concerned about financial matters.
Journalists and social media users added to the satire. Haaretz journalists Chaim Levinson and Uri Misgav both criticized how quickly Netanyahu’s home was attended to, compared to other citizens affected by war. Others took to social media to post memes poking fun at Netanyahu, turning the incident into fodder for humor.
Channel 14 journalist Moti Kastel used the event to blame Netanyahu’s legal advisors, accusing them of endangering his life by delaying requests for reinforcement at the prime minister’s residences. The attack has also become a point of contention in the prime minister’s ongoing legal battles.
While the drone attack raised legitimate security concerns, the political and social discourse surrounding it reflected a country deeply divided, with even serious incidents like this one turning into a source of political maneuvering and online satire.