Israel Votes Tuesday With Front Runners Aligned on Gaza and Statehood

Israel holds its general election on Tuesday, a contest where the leading candidates share a similar stance on the war in Gaza and the prospect of a Palestinian state. The primary disagreement among the frontrunners concerns domestic governance, specifically the relationship between the executive branch and the judiciary. Voters are deciding between the ruling hard-right coalition under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a fragmented opposition group that promises to govern within existing legal frameworks.

The conflict began after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israel has engaged in wars in Gaza and Iran. None of the top contenders have challenged the continuation of these military campaigns. On the issue of a two-state solution, which Israel agreed to pursue in the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, most leaders remain cautious or negative. Netanyahu has stated there will be no Palestinian state. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, called the concept a mistake. Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister, urged the next government to cancel the Oslo Accords. Yair Golan of the Democrats party suggested civil separation instead of full statehood.

A major point of contention is the conscription of ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, men. Netanyahu relies on the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties for support in the Knesset. These parties seek to overturn a Supreme Court ruling from June 25, 2024, that requires Haredi youth to serve in the army. Following the arrest of approximately 40 Haredim this month for avoiding the draft, Netanyahu described the action as an attempt to harm the drafting process. Shas leader Aryeh Deri said his party would not join a government unless the status of yeshiva students is regulated. Eisenkot framed the choice as a battle between a government of draft-dodgers and one of mandatory conscription.

The judiciary overhaul, initiated days after Netanyahu took office in 2022, remains a central campaign issue. The government passed laws changing judge appointments and reducing the powers of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. These measures are scheduled to take effect after the election. Most opposition parties have pledged to reverse them. Netanyahu argues the judiciary must not override the Knesset or executive. Naftali Bennett, co-leader of the Together alliance, pledged to cancel the legal revolution laws immediately upon the Knesset reconvening.

Accountability for the October 7 attack has dominated the campaign narrative. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi resigned in January 2025 following inquiries into security failures. Shin Bet head Ronen Bar left in June 2025 after a dispute with the prime minister. No inquiry has yet examined Netanyahu’s specific role, despite reports that the UAE and Egypt warned him of the attack. Eisenkot promised a State Commission of Inquiry, while Netanyahu proposed a government-led inquiry that has been deferred to the next session.

The current government has also boycotted Chief Justice Isaac Amit. Justice Minister Yariv Levin described the election as a chance to complete the judicial reforms. The opposition views the changes as a reduction in democratic oversight. The election result will determine whether the current coalition maintains its power to implement these domestic changes without immediate judicial reversal.