Israel Votes on Tuesday Amidst Deep Divides

Israelis cast ballots on Tuesday in what many observers call the most consequential election in the country's history. The race features a tight contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right coalition and a fragmented group of opposition parties. While the candidates diverge on domestic policy, they largely agree on the war in Gaza and the status of the Palestinian statehood question.

None of the leading contenders has challenged the military campaign launched after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. That includes the subsequent war against Iran. Most candidates have also failed to outline a clear path toward a two-state solution. Israel committed to working toward that arrangement in the 1990s Oslo Accords, but few leaders appear ready to honor that pledge.

Netanyahu has stated that there will be no Palestinian state. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, called the two-state principle a mistake. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the next government to cancel the Oslo Accords and pursue sovereignty over occupied territory. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, said a leap to two states is impossible while Israeli society remains in trauma, pointing instead to civil separation and security responsibility.

The primary dividing line for voters is domestic governance. Netanyahu's government seeks to operate with reduced judicial oversight. The opposition coalition promises a similar policy agenda but intends to operate within existing legal frameworks. This coalition also aims to remove the more extreme elements of the current administration.

Conscription of the ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, population has become a major flashpoint. The issue has gained prominence as the economic and human costs of the wars have mounted. Netanyahu relies on two Haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, for Knesset support. These parties demand legislation to overturn a June 25, 2024, Supreme Court ruling that shields ultra-Orthodox youth from mandatory service.

Netanyahu described recent arrests of about 40 Haredim for avoiding conscription as a deliberate attempt to harm the drafting process. Aryeh Deri, leader of Shas, stated his party would not join any government unless the status of yeshiva students is regulated. Eisenkot framed the vote as a choice between a draft-dodging government and one led by him that enforces conscription. Avigdor Liberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, called Netanyahu a hostage to draft evaders.

The judicial overhaul remains another key point of contention. The government unveiled a plan to curb court powers days after taking office in 2022. Mass protests in 2023 were interrupted by the Gaza war. The coalition has passed measures changing judicial appointments. A July law stripped Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of many powers, allowing the government to reject her legal advice. Most opposition parties have vowed to reverse these measures if they win.

Accountability for the October 7 attacks has dominated the campaign. More than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza, a toll absent from the platforms of the two main alliances. Security inquiries led Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to resign in January 2025. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar left in June of last year following a dispute with the prime minister. No comparable inquiry has examined Netanyahu's role, despite reports that the UAE and Egypt warned him before the attack.

Eisenkot said Netanyahu was warned and did not act, promising a State Commission of Inquiry. Netanyahu told the Knesset his government wants an inquiry with as broad public support as possible. The proposed government-led inquiry has been deferred to the next legislative session.