Israelis Rebuke Netanyahu Amidst Election, Seeking Hope and National Healing

Israelis are heading to the polls on Tuesday with questions extending beyond Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure, focusing instead on who can best rebuild a nation fractured by years of conflict, restore confidence in leadership, and mend societal divisions. Voters in communities along the Lebanese border and near Gaza are weighing competing visions for Israel's future, with some calling for increased government investment and accountability for the October 7th attacks, while others credit Netanyahu with enhancing national security through military actions.

Asaf Lengleben, head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council, stated, "Three years of fear has changed the people and we need to give them a lot of hope." He plans to vote for the centrist Yashar party, led by former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, a key challenger to Netanyahu's Likud party. Lengleben noted that thousands of residents fled their homes near the Lebanese border due to Hezbollah's escalating attacks following October 7, 2023, and many remain hesitant to return despite the military's efforts to weaken the group.

"People didn’t want to come back. They’re still afraid of Hezbollah," Lengleben said. "They feel alone and they decided to leave. Some decided to leave temporarily. Others decided to leave for a long time." He added that fewer than 1,000 families with children have returned to his region since the war began, citing a significant economic toll from collapsing tourism and struggling businesses.

The Netanyahu government has implemented reconstruction measures, including funding to elevate Tel-Hai Academic College to the University of Kiryat Shmona. However, Lengleben argued for more sustained investment, stating, "If you want to strengthen our region, you have to build us a train, you need to build infrastructure. It’s about money. The ability of the government to assist us is about money."

Daniella Porat-Penso, a resident of Kibbutz Yiftah, expressed that she feels safe now due to the military's efforts in improving security along the northern border. However, she believes that new political leadership could invigorate the region. "I think the north will benefit from a change in government," she said. "It’s a lot about confidence, what you feel when you go to your house or ride around the area."

Despite a desire for political change, some voters still acknowledge Netanyahu's impact. Eylon Bader, who served in Gaza and moved to the northern kibbutz of Neot Mordechai, considers Netanyahu a historically significant Jewish leader but plans to support former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Bader's primary concern is the exemption from military service for many ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, which he finds detrimental to society.

Retired IDF Col. Kobi Marom sharply criticized Netanyahu's leadership, holding him directly accountable for the failures preceding the October 7th Hamas attacks. Marom also criticized the government's relationship with Qatar and its support for ultra-Orthodox parties resisting conscription. He intends to vote for Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, citing a long-standing friendship and professional respect.

Along the Gaza border, Hila Fenlon of Netiv HaAsara, whose partner's cousin was among the six Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas, described Netanyahu's handling of the hostage crisis as a "moral failure."

Conversely, some voters believe Netanyahu's wartime leadership justifies his government's continuation. Shira Felbert, a Jerusalem mother of six who supports Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, stated, "Under this government, Israel has become much stronger against its enemies: Hezbollah is far weaker, and Iran knows Israel will act." While she believes Netanyahu should eventually be replaced, she sees no compelling alternative at present, emphasizing the need for basic certainty for raising children in safety.

The election will determine the composition of Israel's 120-seat Knesset, requiring 61 seats for a governing coalition. Recent polls suggest a fragmented electorate, with neither Netanyahu's allies nor the opposition holding a clear path to forming a government. Former national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi described the election campaign as unusually subdued, attributing the muted atmosphere to political fatigue following years of demonstrations and the ongoing conflict.