Professor Assesses Upcoming Elections Will Center Solely on Netanyahu

Professor Moshe Cohen Eliya, a political commentator, stated on Tuesday that the hope for national unity following the October 7th Hamas attacks has failed to materialize, and the upcoming Israeli elections will likely be decided by a single issue: support for or opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Cohen Eliya noted that the initial expectation after October 7th was for a unifying spirit, particularly with the involvement of reservist soldiers. However, he observed that the current political reality diverges significantly from what many anticipated post-war.

He asserted that any party attempting to campaign on a platform of unity would not succeed politically in the current climate. Instead of blurring existing political lines and forming a new camp, Israeli society has reverted to its previous divisions, which he described as "two tribes."

Despite numerous significant issues on the national agenda, Cohen Eliya believes none will be the decisive factor in the upcoming elections. He explicitly ruled out Iran, the October 7th events, "heuristics" (likely referring to judicial reform or related concepts), and the economy as central themes.

Ultimately, Cohen Eliya concluded that the political landscape will be defined by the division surrounding Prime Minister Netanyahu, summarizing the election's core conflict as simply "Bibi or anti-Bibi."