With Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps publicly vowing to kill him, Benjamin Netanyahu is not just Israel's prime minister right now — he is also its most high-value target. As Operation Roaring Lion enters its third week with no end in sight, Israel has activated some of the most intensive personal and national security measures in its modern history. Here is a full breakdown of what Israel is doing to protect its leader, its people, and its strategic interests.

Netanyahu's Personal Security: Drones, Armoured Vehicles and Fortified Safe Houses

The threat to Netanyahu is not theoretical. In October 2024, Hezbollah launched a drone attack directly targeting his private residence in Caesarea. Two drones were intercepted; a third struck the building. Netanyahu himself was not home, but the message was unmistakable — the Israeli Prime Minister is a marked man.

Now, with Iran's IRGC making public assassination threats in March 2026, Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency has dramatically stepped up its protection operation. Surveillance drones have been deployed over Netanyahu's official Jerusalem residence around the clock. Senior ministers and cabinet security members have been issued armoured vehicles — a measure reserved only for those assessed to be at the highest threat level.

The protection does not stop there. Several senior ministers' families have been quietly moved out of their homes and relocated to fortified apartments. Others have been temporarily housed in hotels. Behind closed doors, ministers who were not included in these arrangements have reportedly voiced frustration over what they see as an unequal distribution of security resources.

The Shin Bet has also tightened instructions on mobile phone usage across the entire cabinet, citing assessments that Iranian intelligence may attempt cyberattacks and phishing operations targeting senior Israeli officials.

$827 Million Emergency Defence Budget: Israel Opens the Vault

Fighting a war on this scale costs money — and Israel is not holding back. On March 15, 2026, Israel approved an emergency budget allocation of 2.6 billion shekels, equivalent to approximately 827 million US dollars, specifically for urgent military purchases. The package was approved by cabinet ministers in a telephone meeting and will be drawn from Israel's total 2026 state budget of 222 billion dollars, which the Knesset is expected to formally adopt by March 31.

The government has not publicly specified which weapons systems or equipment the funds will cover, but the context makes the priorities obvious. Since February 28, Iran has launched over 250 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory. Israel's missile defence systems — Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow system — have intercepted the vast majority, but the relentless pace of attacks is placing enormous strain on interceptor stockpiles.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly dismissed reports suggesting Israel was running low on missile interceptors, saying clearly: the answer is no. But the emergency budget approval tells a different story — Israel is preparing for a long campaign and is ensuring its defence industrial pipeline stays fully stocked.

The Missile Shield: Three Lines of Defence

Israel's layered air defence architecture is the backbone of its civilian protection strategy. Each system targets a different category of threat.

Iron Dome intercepts short-range rockets and artillery shells at lower altitudes — the same system that protected Israeli cities during the Gaza conflict and the Lebanon war.

David's Sling handles medium to long-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles — the primary threat from Iran's arsenal.

The Arrow System — Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 — targets long-range ballistic missiles at high altitudes, including exo-atmospheric interceptions outside the Earth's atmosphere.

Together, these three systems form a near-impenetrable shield. Since the war began, Iran has fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israeli cities daily, and the military has confirmed that the overwhelming majority have been intercepted. The civilian death toll, while not zero, has been dramatically lower than Iran likely intended.

Striking First: Degrading Iran's Launch Capability

Israel's security strategy is not purely defensive. The most effective protection, from Israel's perspective, is eliminating the threat at its source before missiles even launch.

The IDF has confirmed it killed two senior Iranian intelligence officials from the Khatam al-Anbiya Emergency Command — the nerve centre coordinating Iran's military operations. Netanyahu confirmed at his March 12 press conference that Israeli strikes had also eliminated a senior Iranian nuclear scientist.

Netanyahu framed it bluntly at the press conference: the February 28 strikes had prevented Iran from moving its nuclear and ballistic missile projects underground — a window that was closing rapidly and that Israel could not afford to miss. He declared Israel is now "stronger than ever," pointing to severe damage inflicted on the IRGC and Basij forces.

Nationwide Civil Defence: Shelters, Sirens and a Nation on Alert

For ordinary Israeli citizens, the security measures are deeply personal and daily. Air raid sirens have sounded across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and large parts of southern and central Israel on a near-daily basis since February 28. Residents have become accustomed to rushing into bomb shelters — underground parking garages, reinforced stairwells, designated public shelters — within the 90-second warning window the missile alert system provides.

Schools in high-risk areas have moved classes to sheltered floors. Public events have been modified or cancelled. The national psyche has shifted into a wartime rhythm that older Israelis recognise from previous conflicts but that younger generations are experiencing for the first time at this scale.

An overwhelming 82 percent of the Israeli public, according to a March 2026 survey, supports the ongoing military operations — with 93 percent of Jewish Israelis behind the war effort. That domestic unity is itself a form of national security, giving Netanyahu the political cover to maintain the campaign without facing the kind of internal fracture that could weaken Israel's resolve.

What Comes Next

Israel's army chief has said plainly that this war will continue for a long time. The government shelved its controversial ultra-Orthodox draft exemption law to fast-track the 2026 defence budget — a sign that the entire political system, regardless of internal differences, understands the gravity of the moment.

Netanyahu told the Iranian people last week: "We are standing by your side." He told his own people: this war will be "recorded in the annals of Israel." Whether that record ultimately reads as a victory or a cautionary tale remains to be seen.

What is certain right now is this — Israel is spending every tool at its disposal, from surveillance drones outside the prime minister's bedroom window to 827 million dollars in emergency weapons procurement, to ensure it survives this war on its own terms.

The iron shield is up. The question is how long it can hold.

PM Modi Israel Visit 2026: Strategic Talks and Historic Address

The PM Modi Israel Visit 2026has begun with significant diplomatic and strategic importance. Prime Minister Narendra Modideparted for a two-day visit to Israel, marking his second trip to the country after his historic 2017 tour.

During this visit, Modi will become the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Knesset. However, his speech has sparked political controversy, as sections of the Israeli opposition have threatened to boycott the special parliamentary session.

The visit comes at a time of evolving geopolitical tensions in West Asia and ongoing negotiations over major India-Israel defence dealsand a proposed India-Israel FTA.

Opposition Boycott Over Knesset Address

The controversy surrounding Modi’s address stems from reports that Israel’s Chief Justice was not invited to the session. Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapidhas urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuto intervene.

Lapid warned that excluding key institutions could result in a half-empty parliament during the address, potentially embarrassing India. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has described Modi as a “dear friend” and emphasized the importance of bilateral ties.

Major India-Israel Defence Deals in Focus

A central highlight of the PM Modi Israel Visit 2026is defence cooperation. Reports suggest that India may finalize deals worth up to $8.6 billion by 2026.

Key defence discussions include:

 Procurement of advanced Heron MK-2 MALE drones

 Precision-guided missile systems

 Possible technology sharing of Israel’s Iron Domeair defence system

Israeli officials have indicated openness to deeper defence collaboration, including manufacturing military equipment in India under joint ventures.

If finalized, these agreements could significantly boost India’s defence modernization and strengthen strategic autonomy.

Tribute at Yad Vashem and Presidential Talks

On February 26, Modi will visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, to pay tribute to six million Jews killed during Nazi rule under Adolf Hitler.

He will then meet Israeli President Isaac Herzogto discuss regional stability, West Asian tensions, and global security challenges.

India-Israel FTA Talks Gain Momentum

The visit coincides with the first round of negotiations for the India-Israel FTA, which began in New Delhi on February 23 and continues through February 26.

Trade between the two nations reached $3.62 billion in FY 2024–25. The FTA aims to:

 Boost trade in goods and services

 Simplify customs procedures

 Strengthen intellectual property protections

 Improve business confidence for MSMEs

Experts believe the agreement could unlock new opportunities in technology, agriculture, and innovation sectors.

Timing Raises Strategic Questions

The timing of the PM Modi Israel Visit 2026has raised questions within India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Shashi Tharoor.

Concerns were expressed over rising tensions between the United States and Iran in West Asia. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that security considerations are always factored into prime ministerial visits.

Why This Visit Matters Now

This visit reflects a major shift in India’s foreign policy. While India once opposed Israel’s creation in 1947 and voted against its UN membership in 1949, relations have dramatically evolved since full diplomatic ties were established in 1992.

Modi’s 2017 visit marked a turning point, and the PM Modi Israel Visit 2026further strengthens political, defence, and economic partnerships.

With defence modernization, FTA negotiations, and regional instability shaping the global landscape, this visit could redefine India-Israel strategic cooperation for the coming decade.

As Modi addresses the Knesset and engages in high-level defence and trade discussions, the outcomes of this visit may significantly influence India’s strategic positioning in West Asia and beyond.