Israelis Divided on Election Outcome, Future Leadership
Translated & summarized from Jüdische Allgemeine by baba
Israelis are heading to the polls for their 26th Knesset election, with a new poll revealing deep societal divisions. Voters prioritize different issues, including security, societal unity, and cost of living. While the "change bloc" slightly leads in forming a government, no clear majority is evident. President Isaac Herzog aims to prevent repeat elections, and Gadi Eisenkot is the most accepted potential prime minister among Jewish and Arab voters, while Benjamin Netanyahu faces significant rejection.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israelis vote for their 26th Knesset with a poll showing a deeply divided society.
- Jewish voters prioritize security, while Arab voters focus on cost of living.
- The "change bloc" leads slightly in forming a government, but no clear majority exists.
- Gadi Eisenkot is the most accepted prime ministerial candidate among Jewish and Arab voters.
- Benjamin Netanyahu faces significant rejection as a potential prime minister.
- President Isaac Herzog is committed to preventing another round of repeat elections.
With one day remaining until Israelis vote for their 26th Knesset, a new poll by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) reveals a deeply polarized society with diverse expectations for a future government. The election is widely seen as crucial for the Jewish state's future, with significant divisions on how to best address national challenges.
Jewish voters are primarily concerned with a party's ability to handle foreign and security policy. However, within this group, left-wing and centrist voters prioritize overcoming societal divisions, while right-wing voters focus on external threats. Arab voters, conversely, are most concerned with tackling the high cost of living.
The poll shows no clear consensus on which political bloc will form the next government. The "change bloc," aiming for a government transition, leads with 31 percent support, while the right-religious bloc garners 27.5 percent. Among Jewish respondents, the right-religious bloc has a slight edge in forming a government if neither bloc secures a majority, whereas Arab respondents favor the change bloc.
Preferences for government composition also differ. Jewish voters favor a broad coalition of Zionist parties excluding ultra-Orthodox factions. Arab voters prefer a center-left coalition, potentially including or supported by Arab parties. If no majority is formed, over a third of Jewish respondents prefer new elections, followed by a unity government with a rotating prime minister. Arab respondents also favor new elections, with nearly half supporting this option, and about a quarter favoring a minority government.
President Isaac Herzog has pledged to prevent a repeat of the frequent elections between 2019 and 2022, when Israelis went to the polls five times in three and a half years. The IDI survey also assessed public acceptance of potential prime ministerial candidates. Gadi Eisenkot emerged as the most widely accepted candidate among Jewish voters, with 56 percent wishing for him to lead. Naftali Bennett followed, with about half of Jewish respondents open to his premiership. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces significant rejection, with 54 percent finding it difficult to accept him again. Avigdor Lieberman received the lowest approval ratings. Eisenkot is also the only candidate accepted by a majority of Arab respondents, while Netanyahu is rejected by 84 percent of this demographic.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Centre 1Right 1
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
