Far from fringe: How Israel’s mainstream parties vote with the far right
Summary
Israel is holding elections on October 27, 2025, after recent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The country’s political parties, including the main opposition, often agree on strict policies against Palestinians, and mainstream Israeli politics has moved to the right, with far-right views becoming more common.Key Facts
- Israel’s next election is seen as a vote on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.
- Since the October 2023 Gaza war, Israel’s parliament has passed laws limiting Palestinian rights and supporting West Bank settlements.
- Israeli politics are now mostly defined by views on the conflict with Palestinians rather than traditional left-right economic issues.
- The left side in Israel generally supports negotiations and land compromise, while the right opposes a Palestinian state and promotes settlement growth.
- Netanyahu’s coalition after the 2022 election included far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, making it Israel’s most right-wing government.
- Key far-right leaders in the government include Bezalel Smotrich (finance minister) and Itamar Ben-Gvir (national security minister), both pushing for annexation and settlement expansion.
- Smaller parties in the coalition have significant power and have sometimes left or rejoined the government over issues like Gaza ceasefire and military service exemptions.
- The political spectrum in Israel has shifted rightward, with previously fringe right-wing views now mainstream in Jewish Israeli politics.
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