The coalition may have lost, but the opposition did not win: in the 2026 elections, it's still the economy
An analysis by Prof. Danny Gutwein shows that the voting pattern in the 2026 elections remained class-based: the Change Bloc won in the high clusters, the Netanyahu Bloc in the middle clusters, and the Arab and Haredi parties in the low clusters. The author argues that Netanyahu built a 'compensation mechanism system' of sectoral budgets in exchange for loyalty, and the Change Bloc ignored the economic basis of the lower classes' support for the right.
Prof. Danny Gutwein's commentary article analyzes the results of the 2026 elections in Israel and points to a stable class-based voting pattern since 2009. According to the analysis, the Change Bloc (Eisenkot) won a majority in the high socio-economic clusters (8-10), the Netanyahu Bloc in the middle clusters (4-6), in cluster 7 there was near parity, and the Arab and Haredi parties won in the low clusters (1-3). The article argues that Netanyahu dismantled the universal welfare state and built in its place a 'compensation mechanism system': sectoral budgets for Haredim, settlers, and Likud cities in exchange for loyalty at the ballot box. The Change Bloc, according to the author, was drawn into Netanyahu's identity war and ignored the economic basis of his support. As an example, he cites Kiryat Shmona, which voted for Likud in 2026 despite a sense of abandonment, out of economic loyalty logic. The article concludes with a call for an alternative welfare state.