Israel's Election Seen as Pivotal Battle Over Right-Wing Rule and Settlement Policy

Netanyahus far-right administration continues to draw support from religious Zionist settlers, with billions allocated to West Bank projects and reports of settler-perpetrated attacks on Palestinians occurring daily. The government’s agenda includes further settlement expansion east of Jerusalem and attempts to curtail the Supreme Court’s authority, measures that opposition parties criticize as moving Israel toward a more religious and authoritarian state.

While the opposition coalition is fragmented, it shares the goal of blocking Netanyahu’s return, featuring figures such as Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and the left-wing alliance of Jair Lapid and the Democratic bloc led by Jair Golan. Election forecasts suggest a stalemate, with up to 13 of the 38 registered parties likely to enter the Knesset, and any governing majority will probably require cooperation with Arab parties. The outcome could influence Israel’s domestic reforms, settlement policy, and its diplomatic standing, including prospects for broader normalization with Arab states.