5 Psychological Traits That Define Benjamin Netanyahu’s Personality Featured

By Gamal Khattab November 06, 2023 4938

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Self-development

A few days ago, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, made a tweet that got him into trouble. He blamed the intelligence services for a failure that happened during Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood." This tweet caused a lot of criticism towards Netanyahu, and he had to delete it and apologize. This incident made us wonder about Netanyahu's personality. What do we really know about him? A study conducted by a psychology professor from Tel Aviv University, Shaul Qamkhi, tried to find out more about Netanyahu's personality traits. The study looked at his behavior, books he wrote, news articles, and interviews he gave. Let's take a look at some of the traits that define Netanyahu's personality.

Self-Centeredness

According to the research paper, Netanyahu is very self-centered. He cares more about his personal success than the ideology he claims to believe in. He doesn't mind using others, including his colleagues, to achieve his own success. He believes that he understands things better than anyone else and thinks that those who disagree with him don't understand the historical or political contexts correctly. The study provides examples of this behavior, like when Netanyahu claimed to understand historical processes that others don't.

Lack of Understanding

Netanyahu has a hard time understanding and appreciating different points of view. He doesn't try to understand or present perspectives that differ from his own. This is evident in his books and speeches, where he only focuses on his own point of view. He doesn't consider other people's opinions or ideas.

Ambition and Persistence

Netanyahu is known for his ambition and persistence. He always strives to reach the top, no matter the cost. He is willing to make concessions and transgressions to achieve his goals and eliminate his competitors. This explains why he has been the prime minister for a long time. He sets big goals and never gives up on them, even if they are not realistic or threaten his position.

Nervous Coldness

Netanyahu tends to be "nervously cold" when dealing with problems, no matter how big they are. He doesn't think casually and always develops alternative options for his plans. However, unexpected tension makes him feel out of control. In these situations, he experiences feelings of insecurity, shame, humiliation, and fear of being seen as a failure. This leads him to react in a terrified and confused manner. He is willing to promise anything and make impulsive decisions when under pressure.

A Manipulative Leader

Netanyahu seems to be a manipulative person. He doesn't see anything wrong with manipulating others to achieve his goals. He believes that politics is like a jungle, where the strong survive and the weak fall. He will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even if it means breaking promises or lying. He forms alliances based on his own interests and ends relationships when people are no longer useful to him.

The Power of the Media

Netanyahu knows how to manipulate the press to his advantage. He understands that by manipulating the press, he can manipulate the facts to fit his personal or political goals. He is skilled at using rhetoric and manipulating words to present the narrative he wants. He knows how to make the most of topics that scare the West, like terrorism. He treats the media as a battlefield and is very interested in controlling the narrative.

 

A Paranoia Mindset

One of Netanyahu's distinctive traits is his paranoia. He believes that the whole world is against him. When he is attacked, he feels more comfortable because it strengthens his resolve to fight and achieve victory. He automatically suspects anyone who disagrees with him or belongs to a different team. He sees threats as personal attacks.

Understanding Netanyahu's personality and management style helps us make sense of the confusion surrounding the Israeli government's actions. He is manipulative, media-savvy, and paranoid. These traits shape his decision-making and how he interacts with others. It's important to keep these factors in mind when trying to understand his actions and the current crisis.