As the protest grows - and the victory at the ballot box moves further away

An opinion column by Shirit Avitan Cohen analyzing the political implications of the growing protest in Israel ahead of the 2026 elections. The writer argues that Yair Golan's extreme rhetoric, accompanied by provocative headlines, is pushing away center-right voters and bringing Benjamin Netanyahu closer to victory. She compares the current situation to 1968, when noisy protest did not lead to electoral victory, and quotes Avigdor Lieberman warning Golan against divisive statements.

An opinion column by Shirit Avitan Cohen examining the political dynamics in Israel ahead of the 2026 elections. The writer focuses on Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, and Avigdor Lieberman's warnings about provocative statements that push away center-right voters. She notes that Golan continues to generate headlines, including a blood libel tweet from October 2023 that he deleted, and compares the situation to 1968 - a peak year for the new left in the Western world, which ended with a victory for Republicans in the US, Conservatives in the UK, and Gaullists in France. The writer argues that extremism pushes voters away, and quotes Uri Avnery who called activists of "Matzpen" "charlatans" and "liars." The lesson, she says, is that any political camp that adopts extreme fringes distances itself from the center where elections are decided.

As the protest grows - and the victory at the ballot box moves further away