Israeli Party Leaders Appeal to Voters Ahead of Election

By דביר ג'ברה

Translated & summarized from Mako by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Israeli party leaders are making their final appeals to voters ahead of the upcoming election, each presenting their vision for the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted his alliance with President Trump and warned against a left-wing government, while opposition leaders like Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett focused on issues of national service, security, and societal reform. Other parties, including those representing Arab citizens and Haredi communities, are also campaigning on platforms of equality, economic improvement, and preserving national identity. The election is seen as a critical juncture for Israel's future direction.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Israeli party leaders are appealing to voters with distinct platforms ahead of the 26th Knesset elections.
Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized his alliance with President Trump and warned against a left-wing government.
Opposition leaders like Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett are campaigning on national service and societal reform.
Parties representing Arab and Haredi communities are focusing on equality, economic issues, and national identity.
Several smaller parties are struggling to cross the electoral threshold, with warnings against wasting votes.

Israeli Party Leaders Appeal to Voters Ahead of Election — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

As the election week for the 26th Knesset begins, leaders of major Israeli parties have penned appeals to the public, outlining their platforms and reasons to be elected. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading the Likud party, emphasized his alliance with President Donald Trump, stating their shared mission to destroy the existential threat from Iran and ensure Israel's future. He contrasted this with a potential "dangerous government" led by Gadi Eisenkot, which he claimed would be weak against Iran and establish a Palestinian state.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yisrael party, criticized the current leadership for its handling of the war and widespread draft evasion, calling the election a choice between "Zionism and draft evasion, unity and division, lies and truth." He aims to form a broad Zionist government focused on national service for all, a state inquiry commission, and dismantling Hamas.

Naftali Bennett, leading the Yachad party, returned to politics after the October 7th attacks, advocating for a "revolution of servants" where those who don't enlist receive no state funding. He also proposed dismantling the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector to save the Zionist state and promised effective governance.

Yair Golan, chairman of HaDemocratim, highlighted his party's activism and commitment to democracy, security, and hope. He called for a state inquiry commission, equality in burden-sharing, strengthening democracy, separating religion and state, and ending Jewish and Palestinian terror.

Other party leaders also presented their cases: Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu focused on security, equality in burden-sharing, and responsible economics; Aryeh Deri of Shas emphasized caring for the weak, preserving the Jewish character of Israel, and supporting Torah scholars; Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit highlighted his actions as National Security Minister, including distributing weapons and strengthening Jewish presence on the Temple Mount, and vowed to push the government further right; Yaakov Asher of Yahadut HaTorah stressed his party's commitment to Torah scholars and the Haredi public while also working on broader societal issues; Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism Party pointed to achievements in settlement expansion and security policy, promising to continue strengthening Jewish identity and the economy; Mansour Abbas of Ra'am focused on civil-values partnership, improving Arab-Israeli relations, and practical solutions for the Arab community, particularly regarding crime and development; Ofer Winter of Am Israel called for a new right-wing leadership to defeat enemies and address internal societal divisions, including Haredi enlistment; and Yoaz Hendel of HaMiluimnikim-HaKalkalaim argued for a Zionist government without Haredi or Arab parties, focusing on lowering the cost of living and ending political deadlock.

Several parties, including those led by Ofer Winter and Zvi Zeligman, are noted as being below the electoral threshold, with Netanyahu warning against wasting votes on them.