Israeli Parties Vie for Votes in Final Election Month

With Israel's election campaign entering its final month ahead of the October 27 vote, parties are intensifying efforts to mobilize their bases, sway undecided voters, and attract support from opposing camps. Key messages are solidifying, with the leadership contest between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz emerging as a central theme. The right-wing bloc is experiencing internal conflict, while issues of the West Bank, settlements, and Palestinian displacement feature prominently in campaign platforms. Parties are either seeking to expand their influence or fighting to cross the electoral threshold.

The Likud party's campaign centers on Netanyahu, under the slogan "We will not surrender." They highlight his perceived military achievements post-October 7 and his ability to withstand international pressure. The Likud is also running a negative campaign against Gantz, alleging he would need support from Arab parties to form a government. Gantz's campaign positions him as an alternative leader capable of "rebuilding Israel" after the war, emphasizing the need to address the conscription exemption for Haredi men and presenting his party as ready for governance. His campaign includes grassroots activity in traditional Likud strongholds and a robust digital presence.

Naftali Bennett's "B'Yachad" list, which includes "Yesh Atid," focuses on security, the cost of living, and education, aiming to attract undecided voters, particularly those opposed to Netanyahu. Avigdor Lieberman's "Yisrael Beiteinu" is presented as a liberal-right alternative, evoking the "old Likud." Far-right figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir are campaigning on his record as National Security Minister, including policies on Palestinian prisoners and civilian gun distribution, targeting Likud and Shas voters. Smotrich, in a technical alliance with Moshe Feiglin, is focusing his campaign on the "revolution in Judea and Samaria," emphasizing changes in the West Bank and appealing to the hardline ideological base.

Historical political symbols are being repurposed, with Ben-Gvir using the Hebrew letter 'Bet,' historically linked to the National Religious Party, and the Smotrich-Feiglin alliance using 'Tet,' associated with the far-right Moledet party and its call for Palestinian transfer. Smotrich's platform includes advocating for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, a sentiment echoed by Ofir Venture, who considers the failure to implement such policies a governmental failure. Venture is running independently but supports Netanyahu, facing accusations of splitting the right-wing vote, and seeks the defense portfolio, campaigning on "decisiveness" in conflicts.

Yoaz Hendel and Ze'ev Elkin's alliance focuses on Haredi conscription, governance, economic reforms, and reducing living costs, remaining unaligned. On the left, Yair Golan's "Democrats" pledge not to join a government led by Netanyahu or including Haredi and Kahaneist parties. Benny Gantz's "National Unity" party is pushing for a broad, cross-bloc Zionist government. The Haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, are campaigning after failing to pass a Haredi conscription exemption law. Shas is focusing on its traditional base, while United Torah Judaism is delaying its main campaign until after the holidays, emphasizing rabbinical guidance.

The election committee approved party symbols, pending a Supreme Court decision on the disqualification of the Joint List and the "Balad" party, as well as the removal of Sami Abu Shehadeh and Ofer Cassif. The final month of campaigning features a dual track: competition for prime minister and internal struggles over votes, political identity, and the boundaries of discourse. The Palestinian issue, including the Gaza war, settlements, and displacement rhetoric, remains central. Arab votes are being used as a political tool, with Netanyahu's camp leveraging the possibility of opposition reliance on Arab parties to mobilize right-wing voters, while the opposing camp seeks to define acceptable Arab political participation.