esearchers analysing Netanyahu’s psychology have highlighted several recurring traits in his behaviour outside the family context.

Narcissism: Like former US president Donald Trump, Netanyahu has exhibited narcissistic behaviours, including prioritising personal success over ideology; a belief in his superior perception; exploiting subordinates; reluctance to endorse others’ ideas; mixing private and public affairs; tardiness; a readiness to accept assistance; and a determination to pursue ambition relentlessly.

Aggression and Evasion: In international relations, Netanyahu operates with a belief in the law of the jungle, justifying the use of any means to achieve his goals. He readily takes on opponents, even leaders of his own party and employs tactics like preemptive attacks and abandonment of allies to safeguard his position.

Lack of credibility: Netanyahu frequently resorts to falsehoods and reneges on commitments. He is perceived as unreliable. Even when speaking the truth, he comes across as unconvincing. Numerous leaders, such as Hosni Mubarak, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, have accused him of deception.

Pragmatic interpersonal relationships: Netanyahu maintains utilitarian personal relationships, refraining from close or enduring friendships and readily ending connections once they no longer serve his interests.

Suspicion: He is persistently plagued by a sense of hostility from others, portraying himself as a victim and interpreting events as conspiring against him and society as a whole. His deep-seated distrust and insecurity are manifested through an excessive emphasis on detail and a constant need to prove himself.

These characteristics are indicative of Netanyahu’s strategic, often self-centred approach to politics and interpersonal relationships. Pragmatism and suspicion play pivotal roles in his decision-making.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to pressure depends on his familiarity with the source of pressure. When he’s acquainted with the situation, he remains in control, develops alternative plans and confronts problems directly, maintaining a calm demeanour. In these circumstances, he exudes confidence in his ability to manage even the most challenging moments. Notably, he displays adeptness in TV interviews, addressing difficult questions and engaging in direct discussions.

When faced with unforeseen and abrupt situations, Netanyahu is more susceptible to submission. For instance, following the failed assassination attempt on Khalid Mish’al in Amman and the subsequent arrest of the two Mossad members in Jordan, he appeared perplexed and even suggested the release of Sheikh Ahmad Yasin.

Netanyahu harbours an aversion to routine work. When grappling with intractable crises, he exhibits somatic reactions, experiencing physical discomfort, primarily in his stomach.

His cognitive performance reflects intelligence, a strong memory and superior analytical abilities. He is well-read and often reinforces his opinions with quotes from renowned thinkers and figures. His charismatic and inspiring speeches possess the power to influence and persuade his audience, particularly among English-speaking audiences.

Netanyahu’s suspiciousness and sense of victimhood, according to which everyone is against him, continues. A salient point is his marked difficulty in making important decisions regarding the fundamental questions of the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In his leisure life, Netanyahu displays a penchant for opulence, embracing luxury in various facets, including travel, dining and alcoholic beverages. He tends to favour extravagant resorts and hotels. As prime minister, he occasionally sought discounts at these establishments, believing that his presence served as a form of “commercial advertisement” that merited preferential treatment. An illustrative example is his and his wife’s practice of bringing their laundry to the White House for cleaning, underscoring his willingness to leverage his political position for personal advantage.

Benjamin Netanyahu exhibits a distinctive approach to leadership and management. He tends to operate independently and is generally averse to seeking input from experts. While he may delegate certain tasks to his assistants, he maintains a firm grip on the overall management. His leadership style is characterised by a sharp and often undemocratic tendency.

Consultation with others is rare, except for his personal advisors. He surrounds himself mostly with individuals who are compliant and unquestioning, often described as “yes-men.” In his leadership, he is known to make promises that sometimes conflict with one another. He is not averse to employing behind-the-scenes tactics that may contradict his public commitments.

Netanyahu possesses a skillful ability to manipulate and harness the power of the media, particularly through television. He has a knack for using media platforms to convey his message effectively and shape public perceptions.

His stance on the Arab-Zionist conflict

His animosity towards Arabs aligns with his antipathy towards others. His approach to the Arab-Zionist conflict is shaped by several key factors: He strongly advocates for the ‘right of return’ for Jews. He also holds that Arab hostility toward Israel will persist across the current generation.

He posits that the acceptance of Israel by Arabs will only come through force. Netanyahu is entirely secular and views religion primarily through the lens of Jewish history. His aversion to Arabs stems from the influence of his father, a prominent aide to Jabotinsky. This influence has led him to resort to the use of force without moral restraint, driven by a staunch Darwinian perspective. The loss of his brother in the Entebbe incident has further solidified his aggressive stance.

His propensity for falsehoods, evident in both his personal and political dealings, implies that fulfilling political promises is of secondary importance to him. His political strategy accepts deception as a legitimate tool. This is exemplified by the Israeli State Comptroller’s report, revealing his concealment of the Gaza tunnel threat before the 2014 Gaza war. He frequently provides shifting timelines regarding Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, capitalising on public forgetfulness. Given his pervasive doubts, experts concur that he is ill-equipped to provide a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

When analysing Netanyahu’s personality, it’s essential to consider the role of political institutions in tempering certain personality traits, influenced by the nature of the political system. Neglecting a leader’s personality in the analysis of a political system can lead to a flawed assessment. A comprehensive understanding necessitates combining the findings of such studies with the local, regional and international context.

The writer is Professor in the faculty of Liberal Arts at the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore