Longtime Likud Voter Explains Why He's Switching Allegiance

Yoram Cohen, a 55-year-old originally from Jerusalem and now living in Eilat, has decided not to vote for the Likud party in the upcoming elections, a significant shift for someone who grew up in a right-wing household and consistently voted for the party.

Cohen explained that while he never identified as a "Bibi-ist," he always believed he was voting for the Likud party and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he previously defended, believing Netanyahu acted in the country's best interest and prioritized security.

The turning point for Cohen was the judicial overhaul and the ensuing protests. He stated that the government's perceived indifference to the escalating violence between protesters and counter-protesters, and its alleged role in inflaming tensions rather than calming them, became unbearable. Cohen believes the name "Likud," meaning unity, should reflect bringing the people together, not inciting division.

Cohen's decision to leave the party was swift, and he emphasized that the alternative candidate was not a factor. He expressed pain over the feeling that "the country is eating itself alive." He is seeking a "calm" and "unifying" option in the center of the political spectrum, rather than the extremes.

For the upcoming elections, Cohen plans to vote for Gadi Eisenkot, whom he considers the "right person" and believes offers a positive direction for the country by not aligning strictly with either the right or the left. This personal political journey is part of a special project by Ynet and "100שטח" where Israelis share their voting intentions and the reasons behind their changing political views.