CURRENT ISSUES FOR OUR IRAC COMMUNITY

Israel After the Vote: Who Won, What’s Next, and What Kind of Country Will Israel Be? 
Israelis have voted, but the results tell a complicated story. Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party. Yet forming an alternative government may depend on whether Jewish opposition parties are willing to cooperate with Arab political representatives. 

Recorded live in Jerusalem the day after the election, Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg examine the results, the possible coalitions, and what they could mean for Israel's future. 

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Dear Friend,

On Tuesday, we went to the polls after four exhausting years under an extremist government, marked by war, devastation, incitement, and hatred. 

I began election day at 6 a.m., serving as an observer at a polling station in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem. After months of concern about possible irregularities, I was relieved to see voting proceed smoothly and professionally at my station. Throughout the country, the extraordinarily high turnout gave many of us hope. 

But as the results came in, that excitement gave way to disappointment. Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the largest party, performing significantly better than many of us had expected. This is the bad news which is very hard to comprehend – a prime minister who failed on all accounts receives 20% of the votes. 

But here is the good news: Netanyahu's governing coalition has lost its parliamentary majority, falling from 68 seats to approximately 53 — a significant reduction in its political power.

Netanyahu’s coalition depended on the ultra-Orthodox parties and the far-right parties led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Their influence has shaped government policies on military service, public funding, religious freedom, and judicial independence, as well as Israel’s approach to the West Bank and Gaza. 

But the balance of power has shifted. The ultra-Orthodox parties have lost approximately 20% of their seats, and Netanyahu’s former coalition no longer appears to command a parliamentary majority. As a result, these parties will no longer be able to impose their demands as they have in recent years.

For those of us who have spent years challenging these policies, this is a significant development. It opens the door to meaningful change, even as the composition of the next government remains uncertain.

So why isn't a change of government assured? 

One of the most important answers lies in how Israel treats the political representation of its Arab citizens. 

One of the remarkable developments of this election was the extraordinarily high turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel. In communities where many people have long felt that their votes make little difference, voters came out in large numbers to demand a voice in their country's future. 

Yet some Jewish opposition parties continue to rule out relying on Arab representatives to form a government. 

This is outrageous. Arab citizens are citizens of Israel, and their representatives have the same democratic mandate as every other elected member of the Knesset.

What does equality mean if we count people's votes but refuse to consider their political representation legitimate?

That question is at the heart of this week's episode of The Pluralist Podcast, which Rabbi Josh Weinberg and I recorded together in Jerusalem just one day after the election. 

We discuss the coalition scenarios, why Netanyahu continues to attract support, the possible decline in the political influence of the Haredi and far-right parties, and the choices now facing those who want a different government. 

These results are not what we hoped for, and the disappointment is real. But we should not overlook the message that millions of Israelis – including tens of thousands who, like Josh, flew from afar to cast their vote - delivered at the ballot box. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the outgoing coalition and voted for a different future. Despite Netanyahu's personal success, the election results reflect a significant desire for political change. Whether the elected representatives can translate that message into a different government remains to be seen. 

 The decisions made in the coming weeks will shape Israel's future, and we have a responsibility to remain engaged, make our voices heard, and hold our elected representatives accountable. 

Whatever government eventually emerges, our work at IRAC will continue — in the courts, in the Knesset, and throughout Israeli society. We will keep working for religious freedom, democratic accountability, and equal rights for everyone who lives here. 
 

🎧 Watch or listen to the new episode of The Pluralist Podcast: 

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I know that for many of us, these election results have been disappointing. After four exhausting years, we need time to rest and regain our strength. But we are not giving up. The struggle for a more just, equal, and democratic Israel has always required perseverance, and we are deeply grateful to have you standing alongside us. 

The political future remains uncertain, and the coming weeks will bring difficult choices as well as new opportunities. Whatever happens, we will continue working to turn those opportunities into meaningful change, knowing that we are not walking this road alone. 

Sincerely, 

Orly Erez-Likhovski