Netanyahu Calls for "Super-Sparta" Israel Amid Mounting Legal and Political Pressure

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare appearance on Monday at the annual conference of the Accountant General's Department at the Finance Ministry, using the platform to deliver a stark and provocative speech calling for radical shifts in Israel's economic, security, and governance models.

In a speech that observers say was as politically charged as it was ideologically driven, Netanyahu outlined three core messages, which critics are already calling an attempt to distract from damning revelations expected in the interim report of the State Commission of Inquiry into the Submarine Affair.

"The World Is Against Us" – A Narrative of Isolation

Netanyahu began by asserting that Israel is facing hostility not only from traditional adversaries but also from its longtime Western allies. He claimed that countries like Spain and Belgium, as well as the broader Western world, have been "conquered" by Muslim immigration and influenced by bots operated by Iran, Qatar, and China. These elements, he argued, are shaping anti-Israel sentiment on global social media platforms.

"The current enemy is not just Iran, but also Western states manipulated by hostile actors," Netanyahu warned. "We are alone."

"Super-Sparta" – Call for Self-Reliance 

Against the backdrop of perceived international isolation, the Prime Minister argued that Israel must transform into a self-sufficient, militarized nation — a "super-Sparta" capable of standing alone.

“We can no longer depend on others,” he said. “Israel must become an autarkic economy, producing its own weapons and ammunition.”

This vision would require massive investment in domestic arms production and military infrastructure, along with a significant overhaul of Israel's current economic strategy.

 Dismantling Bureaucracy: "Change the Law"

Netanyahu’s third message was a direct attack on regulatory and legal institutions. Repeating the phrase "we must cut bureaucracy" several times, he said that legal and administrative processes must not hinder Israel’s transformation into a militarized, self-reliant state.

“The law must change life, not the other way around,” Netanyahu declared. “We will change the law.”

This statement has raised alarms among legal experts and political opponents, who see it as a veiled threat against judicial oversight and rule of law principles.

Netanyahu's speech comes just days after the release of a damning interim report by the State Commission of Inquiry into the Submarine Affair. The report alleges that Netanyahu and the National Security Council made critical security decisions without proper consultation or documentation, misleading the government and undermining national security.

“The Prime Minister and the National Security Council's actions were not preceded by an orderly decision-making process,” the report states. “Ministers and heads of the defense establishment were given selective reports, which led to decisions based on a partial and inaccurate picture.”

The commission accuses Netanyahu of jeopardizing Israel’s security and damaging its foreign relations and economic interests.

Analysts: Sparta Speech Aims to Shift Narrative

Political analysts suggest that Netanyahu's dramatic rhetoric and policy proposals are aimed at deflecting attention from the Submarine Affair inquiry, which threatens to impose severe political or legal consequences on him.

“Netanyahu is trying to rewrite the rules before they catch up with him,” said one legal analyst. “He’s creating a reality in which the very actions under investigation — unilateral decision-making, bypassing legal checks, avoiding documentation — become state policy.”

The Prime Minister's recent rhetoric about Qatar — once seen as a key broker in regional negotiations — also raised eyebrows, with speculation that his sudden antagonism was meant to deflect from allegations linking him to the Qatargate affair.

Critics warn that Netanyahu’s vision is moving Israel toward authoritarianism, echoing patterns seen in other populist-led governments.

“This is not about cutting red tape for economic efficiency,” said a former senior official. “This is about removing all constraints on power — legal, institutional, and democratic.”

If Netanyahu succeeds in reframing governance norms to allow unaccountable, unilateral decision-making under the guise of national emergency, critics say, it could mark a dangerous shift in Israeli democracy.