Who is a Jewish Israeli 2.0
Dr. Gayil Talshir argues that the 2026 elections are not between 'Jews' and 'Israelis', but between an extreme nationalist-racist camp and a national-liberal camp. She criticizes Ari Shavit's dichotomy and points to religious Zionists in the liberal camp. The article describes the transformation Netanyahu underwent and the political polarization in Israel.
Dr. Gayil Talshir argues that the 2026 elections are not between 'Jews' and 'Israelis', as Ari Shavit presents in his article, but between an extreme nationalist-racist camp and a national-liberal camp. She criticizes Shavit's dichotomous distinction and points to religious Zionists who are not Hardalim, such as Yoram Cohen and Orit Farkash-Hacohen, who are in the liberal camp. Talshir describes the transformation Benjamin Netanyahu underwent from neoliberalism to a religious-nationalist strategy, and the removal of liberals from the Likud. She presents the liberal camp as a camp that includes diverse political self-definition, centered on the free individual, the state, pluralistic Judaism, and equal rights. The article concludes by presenting two options: 'Jewish Sparta' versus 'democratic and liberal Jewish-Israeli identity'.