Morning Thought

The Political Psychology of Benjamin Netanyahu

Recently, the European Union (EU) and Britain issued a strong diplomatic warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. All 27 EU member countries came together to deliver this message.

Their warning was clear: if Israel blocks international aid to Gaza, the EU will suspend all its trade agreements with Israel. EU foreign affairs spokesperson Kaja Kallas made this statement to the media. Britain also echoed this warning in strong terms, telling Israeli embassy officials that they will not sit idle if two million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are left to starve.

This shows that both the EU and Britain are now taking a firm stand against Israel’s actions in Gaza—blocking aid, causing starvation, and trying to occupy more land.

To understand how Israel will respond to these warnings, we must understand the political mindset of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Who is Benjamin Netanyahu?

From a Freudian perspective, Netanyahu’s actions today may be deeply connected to the pain of his childhood. According to this view, he behaves without empathy or humanity because of his traumatic early experiences.

As Israel’s long-serving prime minister, Netanyahu sees national politics as something very personal. His father, Benzion Netanyahu, was a hardline Zionist and a historian. Due to his extreme views, he was rejected by Israel’s academic circles, which caused a lot of hardship for the family. Netanyahu grew up in that environment—learning early on to fight for survival.

This shaped him into a doubtful and defensive person from a young age.

What Do Psychologists Say?

Famous Israeli psychologist Prof. Shaul Kimhi, after studying Netanyahu’s actions between 1999 and 2017, wrote that Netanyahu is a classic narcissist with signs of serious mental instability.

He believes he is better than anyone else in the world, craves constant attention and praise, and thinks he deserves special treatment. He avoids criticism, lacks empathy, and always wants to be in the spotlight. These are clear signs of a narcissistic personality.

The Real Question

So, the real concern is:
Is Israel safe in the hands of such a leader?

When a narcissistic and insecure person holds power and controls weapons, their actions can become aggressive and dangerous. That seems to be exactly what we’re witnessing in Israel now.

Both Britain and the European Union appear to have realized this — and are beginning to act accordingly.

— AM Yasir