Israel's Election: Netanyahu and Rivals Agree on Gaza, Clash on Courts

Israel enters a national election on Tuesday that many observers consider the most consequential in the country's history. Despite the high stakes, the top candidates share a largely identical stance on the war in Gaza and the conflict with Iran. None of the leading contenders has challenged the military campaign that began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The main political split is domestic rather than foreign policy, centering on the structure of the government and the role of the courts.

The primary division separates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right bloc from a loose coalition of opponents. Netanyahu's government would operate free of the judicial oversight he has long criticized. The opposition promises a similar policy agenda but intends to govern within existing laws and without the extreme elements of the current administration. This internal focus means voters are choosing between two visions of domestic governance while the parties maintain similar stances on the ongoing wars.

A two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians remains a point of contention, though few leaders offer a clear path to it. Israel committed to this goal in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s. Netanyahu has stated there will be no Palestinian state. Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party called the two-state principle a mistake. Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister, urged the next government to cancel the Oslo Accords and pursue sovereignty. Yair Golan of the Democrats party said a leap to two states is impossible while Israeli society remains in trauma, pointing instead to civil separation.

The conscription of the ultra-Orthodox Haredi population has become a major flashpoint. Netanyahu relies on the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties for support in the Knesset. These parties demand legislation to overturn a June 25, 2024 Supreme Court ruling that shields Haredi youth from the draft. After approximately 40 Haredim were arrested this month for avoiding conscription, Netanyahu called the arrests a deliberate attempt to harm the drafting process. Shas leader Aryeh Deri said his party would not join any government unless the status of yeshiva students is regulated. Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beiteinu described Netanyahu as a hostage to draft evaders.

The judicial overhaul continues to divide the political field. The government unveiled plans to curb the courts shortly after taking office in 2022, sparking months of mass protests in 2023. The coalition has passed measures changing how judges are appointed. In July, a law stripped Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of many powers, allowing the government to reject her legal advice. These measures are scheduled to take effect after the election. Most of the opposition has vowed to reverse them. Justice Minister Yariv Levin calls the election a historic chance to finish the work, while Netanyahu argues the judiciary must not crush the Knesset or the executive.

Accountability for the October 7 attack has dominated the campaign. More than 74,000 people were killed in Gaza, yet this figure is absent from the platforms of the two main alliances. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi resigned in January 2025 following inquiries into security failures. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar left in June last year after a dispute with the prime minister. No comparable inquiry has examined Netanyahu's own role, despite reports that the UAE and Egypt warned him before the attack. Eisenkot promised a State Commission of Inquiry, while Netanyahu told the Knesset his government wants an inquiry with as broad public support as possible.

The proposed government-led inquiry never reached its final reading. It has been deferred to the next session of the Knesset. Naftali Bennett, co-leader of the Together alliance, pledged to cancel all legal revolution laws as soon as the new Knesset convenes. The election will determine which side controls the legislative agenda and whether the judicial changes passed in July stand or are reversed.