Sderot Junction: A City Used to Voting Likud Has Thousands of New Residents. Has Anything Changed?

Sderot, a traditional Likud stronghold, is facing demographic change with thousands of new residents and anger over the October 7 failures. Residents express loyalty to Netanyahu alongside criticism of the cost of living and the drafting of Haredim. The article examines whether voting patterns will change in the upcoming elections, presenting diverse voices from the street.

Sderot, a city considered one of Likud's strongholds, is at the center of political attention ahead of the upcoming elections. The city, which experienced the October 7 massacre firsthand, was evacuated by the thousands and has returned to a rebuilt city, now numbering about 40,000 residents, an increase of about 5,000. In the 2022 elections, Likud won about 41.5% of the vote, and Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit received about a quarter. The article presents voices from the street: Danny Suisa, a staunch Likudnik, remains loyal despite criticism; Omri Rotstein is torn between Bennett and Eisenkot; Hadar supports drafting everyone and intends to vote for Ben Gvir; Mai Fahima wants change but hasn't decided yet. The central question is whether the new neighborhoods and new residents will change traditional voting patterns.