Israel’s election is being cast as a historic showdown - but four trends tell a different story

Herb Keinon argues that Israel's election is being framed as the most fateful ever, but four trends suggest otherwise. The article warns that such framing turns political defeat into an existential threat, making it harder for the losing side to accept results. It notes internal bloc rivalries and the risk of a government being denied room to govern.

Herb Keinon argues that Israel's upcoming election on Tuesday is being cast as the most fateful in history, but four trends suggest a different story. The article warns that calling the election 'the most fateful ever' turns political competition into an existential matter, making it harder for the losing side to accept the results. It notes that since 2021, Israel has struggled with whether the losing side will give the other a chance to govern, citing the opposition's tactics against the Bennett government and the language of illegitimacy used during the judicial overhaul protests. The piece also highlights that some of the fiercest fighting has taken place within blocs: Netanyahu vs. Ofer Winter on the right, and Gadi Eisenkot vs. Avigdor Liberman in the anti-Netanyahu camp. The article concludes that magnifying the stakes may bring voters to the polls but may also make it harder afterward for the losing side to accept the results.