Israel’s Democrats Hold Potentially Final Primaries Amid Rising Political Tensions

On July 20, 2026, the Democratic Party in Israel is conducting primaries with over 112,000 registered members expected to vote, marking a significant digital milestone for the left-wing bloc. This turnout surpasses the last time the Labor Party had over 100,000 members nearly two decades ago, now facilitated through smartphone voting without traditional polling stations or direct candidate meetings. The primaries are seen as crucial not only internally but also by the entire political spectrum, as they will determine the candidate list for Israel’s sole left-wing party in the upcoming elections.

Veteran members from Meretz and Labor, the two parties that merged to form the Democrats, anticipate a more radical candidate list than Meretz’s previous selections. Notably, attorney Gabi Leski, known for her activism with Peace Now and legal defense of Palestinian stone-throwers and supporters of terrorism, is expected to secure the fourth spot reserved for a Meretz representative. A tight contest is underway for the second spot between Naor Narkis, who has made provocative statements such as calling to "go up to Berlin" and advocating bulldozing religious institutions, and Michal Rozin, a longtime Meretz member.

Party members tend to hold more ideologically extreme views than the general electorate, a dynamic recognized by figures like Netanyahu, who strategically reserves spots on the Likud list to balance appeal between core supporters and swing voters. The broader political right is closely watching the Democrats’ primaries, concerned that a list with extreme candidates like Narkis could be exploited by Likud campaigners and harm centrist figures such as Eisenkot, Lieberman, and Bennett.

Narkis’s confrontational style resonates with militant secular factions but alienates moderate and traditional religious voters, potentially deepening societal divisions. Ironically, some right-wing and ultra-Orthodox groups are hoping for his success to weaken the left-wing bloc. The Democrats’ primaries may be the last of their kind in Israel, reflecting a shift in political engagement and election processes in the country.