Israeli election pits hard-right government against judicial rivals

Israel enters its general election on Tuesday, with the central contest centered on domestic governance rather than foreign policy. The vote determines whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu retains control of a government largely free from judicial oversight or if a fragmented opposition coalition takes power.

Major candidates agree on the core military strategy. None of the frontrunners has challenged the war in Gaza, which began following the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, or the subsequent conflict with Iran. The leading contenders also lack a distinct plan for a two-state solution, leaving the Oslo Accords commitment largely unaddressed in their platforms.

The primary division lies in the domestic agenda. Netanyahu’s bloc represents a hard-right government that operates with limited judicial checks. The opposition coalition promises a similar policy direction but intends to govern within existing legal frameworks and without the more extreme elements of the current administration.

The status of the two-state solution remains a point of contention among specific leaders. Netanyahu has stated that there will be no Palestinian state. Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party described the principle as a mistake. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the next government to cancel the Oslo Accords and encourage migration from Gaza and the West Bank. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, argued that civil separation is more feasible than a full statehood transition while Israeli society remains in trauma.

Conscription of the ultra-Orthodox population has become a defining issue. Netanyahu relies on the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties for support in the Knesset. These parties have demanded legislation to overturn a Supreme Court ruling from June 25, 2024, which protected ultra-Orthodox youth from the draft. After approximately 40 individuals were arrested this month for avoiding service, Netanyahu called the moves a deliberate attempt to harm the drafting process. Shas leader Aryeh Deri stated his party would not join any government unless the status of yeshiva students is regulated.

The judicial overhaul serves as another major flashpoint. The government passed measures in 2022 and 2023 to change how judges are appointed. In July, a law stripped Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of key powers, allowing the government to reject her legal advice. Both measures are set to take effect after the election. The opposition has vowed to reverse these changes. The government has also boycotted Chief Justice Isaac Amit, a move critics describe as an assault on democracy, while Justice Minister Yariv Levin calls the election a chance to complete the judicial reforms.

Accountability for the events of October 7 has dominated the campaign. More than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza, a figure absent from the platforms of the two main alliances. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced his resignation in January 2025 following inquiries into security failures. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar left his post in June of last year after a dispute with the prime minister. No comparable inquiry has examined Netanyahu’s specific role, despite reports that the UAE and Egypt warned him before the attack.

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