Israeli Political Debate Returns to Old Rivalries Despite Calls for Post-October Reset

Following the traumatic events of October 7, 2026, there was widespread agreement on the need for a fundamental reset in Israel’s political and institutional landscape. The failures exposed were not just individual mistakes but revealed deep systemic weaknesses in governance, accountability, and decision-making frameworks. However, as the next elections approach, political discourse has reverted to familiar conflicts over leadership positions and party rankings rather than addressing the core issues that necessitated change.

Professor Moshe Cohen-Eliya, founder of the research institute "Masad Ha'aretz," criticizes the current political scene for lacking new ideas or visions for the country’s future. He argues that a genuine reset must begin with a clear vision of the kind of state Israel wants to build, rather than focusing on who will lead or hold ministerial portfolios. Cohen-Eliya sees a real need for a single right-wing liberal party that combines security and nationalism with liberal values such as personal freedom, economic competitiveness, science, technology, and equal opportunity.

He highlights the historical context of Israel’s institutional power, noting that although the Labor movement shaped the state’s institutions for decades, demographic and cultural shifts have changed the country’s social fabric. Yet, institutional power structures have not adapted at the same pace, creating a constitutional and political crisis marked by a gap between Israel’s social structure and its centers of power.

Cohen-Eliya stresses that while independent institutions like the judiciary and academia are vital to democracy, they should not override popular sovereignty. The transition of hegemonic power should not be about revenge or elite replacement but about forming a new elite that is rooted in tradition yet forward-looking, national yet liberal, and committed to both popular sovereignty and professional integrity.

Invoking Herzl’s vision of "Altneuland" (Old-New Land), Cohen-Eliya calls for integrating Israel’s historical identity with modern values such as freedom, equality, and technological advancement. He concludes that the critical question is not just who wins the upcoming elections but what political and social order will emerge from the recent crisis. Israel needs a new leadership that starts with a foundational idea rather than personal ambitions, emphasizing the need to start anew from the beginning rather than merely restarting.