Haaretz declares Netanyahu Israel's worst prime minister in history

Haaretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, wrote that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go down in history as the country's worst prime minister due to his failure over the October 7 attack and the resulting economic crisis.

Scraper SystemJuly 26, 2026, 09:29 AM

Haaretz declares Netanyahu Israel's worst prime minister in history

Haaretz, one of Israel's leading newspapers, published a harsh assessment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political legacy. The newspaper stated that following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent economic collapse, Netanyahu will be remembered as the 'country's worst prime minister in history'.

Haaretz's report emphasized that the image Netanyahu had built over years was shattered on October 7. The newspaper wrote that this event, which occurred under his watch, was a defeat and that Israelis were experiencing the most dangerous security period in two generations.

Highlighting the economic dimension, the newspaper noted that the unprecedented increase in the defense budget, tax hikes, cuts in public services, and the growing debt burden would have negative effects lasting for years. The report used the phrase, 'History will write Netanyahu as the country's worst prime minister.'

Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, had launched a comprehensive attack called 'Al-Aqsa Flood' on October 7, 2023, citing retaliation for violations against Palestinians and sacred values, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel announced that 1,200 people were killed and 5,132 were wounded in the attacks.

Israel's retaliatory operations in Gaza have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Israeli officials describe October 7 as 'the greatest intelligence and military failure in the country's history.'

Haaretz's assessment is seen as a reflection of the rising domestic criticism against the Netanyahu government.