Israeli election campaigns must move past political gimmicks to tackle critical issues - editorial

The Jerusalem Post editorial argues that Israeli election campaigns must abandon political gimmicks and focus on substantive issues in the final two weeks before the October 27 elections. It criticizes the Likud campaign's 'Yamin or Falestine' slogan as racist, showing Yashar leader Gad Eisenkot with Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi. It also criticizes the opposition Shinui (Change) bloc for focusing on Netanyahu's role in the October 7 massacre rather than policy platforms, except for B'Yachad. The editorial warns that a potential return to war with Iran could postpone the election, citing an Axios report that Netanyahu spoke to President Trump about renewed military strikes. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned renewed fighting could delay elections. The editorial notes that recent disclosures against Netanyahu, including a defamation lawsuit by former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and allegations by Netanyahu's former military secretary Avi Gil, are timed to create artificial crises. It calls for parties to address education, transportation, the environment, the unequal IDF draft, emigration, the West Bank, and settler violence.