A nation divided: What do Israelis want in October’s elections?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Israel’s next general election, set for October 27, is being shaped less by the Palestinian issue than by domestic disputes over democracy, governance and the legacy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Analysts interviewed by the outlet said Jewish Israeli voters are likely to focus on the judicial overhaul, the balance of power between the government and the courts, and whether Netanyahu should remain in office. The article says October 7, 2023, and the wars that followed continue to dominate public debate, with calls for an inquiry into the security failures surrounding the Hamas-led attack and Netanyahu’s role in them.

The piece also highlights concern among critics that Netanyahu and his allies have weakened state institutions by promoting loyalists, challenging the judiciary and trying to remove Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Opposition forces, Al Jazeera notes, are often defined mainly by what they oppose rather than by a shared policy platform. It also says far-right and mainstream Jewish parties have largely ruled out coalitions with Arab parties, leaving Palestinian citizens of Israel with little political leverage.

Another major issue is the long-running dispute over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The report says that, after expanded military operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, the draft issue has become especially sensitive and may influence coalition-building after the vote. Al Jazeera adds that violence and organized crime in Palestinian communities inside Israel remain a serious concern, while many Palestinians feel excluded from the election’s main political conversations.