Election Campaign Explores Mizrahi-Ashkenazi Divide and Judicial Rift

With one week until the 2026 elections, hosts Eliraz Sade and Shai Israel embarked on a nationwide tour to gauge public sentiment for the final segment of their "Voice of the People" project. Their journey took them to Givat Olga, Rehovot, the market in Ramla, and Kibbutz Be'eri in the Gaza envelope, where they engaged with local residents and assessed the political atmosphere.

In Givat Olga, a neighborhood where 74% of voters supported coalition parties in the last election, Sade reflected on the deep societal divisions. "It's not about Bibi or not Bibi," he stated, "The election is about one part of the nation not wanting to choose the other part. Bibi is a code word, just like Rabin was, or Gabi Ashkenazi is today. Ultimately, there are two parts of the nation, each wanting to be superior to the other." Shai Israel raised the question of when Israel would have a prime minister of Moroccan descent, to which Sade responded that Ashkenazi, while of Moroccan heritage, is perceived as "First Israel" and not truly from "the bottom," implying he wouldn't vote for him based on ethnicity alone.

In Rehovot, Sade's current city, where the vote was split evenly between coalition and opposition parties in the last election, residents expressed diverse views. One resident, Eli, called the upcoming election "fateful" and advocated for a free and democratic state with a constitution, emphasizing that democracy is not solely majority rule and criticizing the frequent changes in law and disregard for court rulings. Sade acknowledged the differing views on the judiciary, noting that "some people consider the court sacred, while another side has no trust in the court."

At the Ramla market, discussions grew heated. Yaakov Matzluah argued that the traditional Mizrahi public is underrepresented in elite units and the judiciary. Mali Ben Haim suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hindered by the High Court. Eli Dweck countered, questioning their complaints after 20 years in power, to which Matzluah responded that reforms were made and the country was "burned." Shlomo Saror vehemently denied claims, calling the trial against Netanyahu "the most bizarre thing that happened in the country" and a "false trial."

Matzluah further asserted that the last 20 years have been a "golden age" for "Second Israel," citing improvements in cities like Ofakim, Netivot, Sderot, and Givat Olga. He stated that traditional Mizrahi voters identify primarily with Judaism, and Netanyahu represents this identity, regardless of his personal observance. The final stop was Kibbutz Be'eri, where 96% voted for opposition parties. Kibbutz secretary Gal Cohen expressed disbelief in the Mizrahi-Ashkenazi dichotomy, stating that Mizrahim have progressed well. Sade countered that the issue affects younger Mizrahi individuals who need to see representation, even in judicial figures.

Avida Bachar concluded that tribalism is a divisive method that should be condemned.