Kathmandu— Israel is preparing for general elections on October 27th, a vote widely considered critical despite recent conflicts and ongoing tensions with Palestinians. While past election cycles often revolved around the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, current issues are decidedly domestic: the health of Israeli democracy, the legitimacy of governing coalitions, and differing visions for the state’s identity are taking center stage. Jewish voters will grapple with questions about democratic norms and military conscription, while Palestinian citizens hope for a coalition that addresses violence in their communities—all against the backdrop of the October 7th attacks and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

Shifting Priorities

Analysts agree that the traditional fault line between Israel’s right and liberal wings – dealing with Palestinians – has largely dissolved, replaced by a near-universal animosity towards Palestinians and little prospect of a two-state solution. Instead, Israelis are focused on accountability for the October 7th attacks, which resulted in 1,139 deaths, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in the security failures that allowed them to happen. While over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then, this is largely ignored within the Israeli political discourse.

Democratic Backsliding Concerns

A key concern for many Jewish Israeli voters is the current far-right coalition government’s attempts to bypass democratic norms and halt exemptions from military conscription for Israel’s ultra-Orthodox minority. Daniel Bar-Tal, a social-political psychologist, emphasized the need to “overturn the nomination of loyal people” placed in key positions by Netanyahu, which he believes have damaged civil service and security forces. Critics also point to the 2023 judicial overhaul as an assault on the institutions of the state, with right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatening to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara if she challenges the coalition’s conduct.

The Netanyahu Factor

Beyond concerns about democratic norms, many Israelis are simply seeking an alternative to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sociologist Yehouda Shenhav-Shahrabani noted that while the opposition is often as right-wing as Likud, it's largely viewed as the “Anti-Netanyahu bloc.” He added, “There’s a large number of people who just want to get rid of Netanyahu,” citing a sense that he is at the center of many of the country’s problems and even prompting reluctance within his own party.

Palestinian Citizens Marginalized

Palestinian citizens of Israel face an increasingly bleak political landscape. Most mainstream Jewish parties have ruled out forming coalitions with Arab parties, a stance exemplified by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who labeled such a prospect “worse” than the October 7th attack. This leaves Palestinian citizens without representation and vulnerable to endemic violence and organized crime within their communities; this year alone, 158 Palestinians in Israel have been murdered. Shenhav-Shahrabani observed that strains of violence and right-wing rhetoric had accelerated under the current government, creating a darker environment for Palestinians.

Ultra-Orthodox Conscription Debate

The issue of conscription for the ultra-Orthodox community is another major point of contention. With ongoing deployments to Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, the refusal of Haredi men to serve in the military has become a particularly sensitive topic. While leaders frame full-time Torah study as their national calling, secular politicians have criticized the exemption, leading to protests and heated rhetoric. Nimrod Flaschenberg, an Israeli political analyst, noted that the prominence given to this issue is unusual “given the scale of what’s happening everywhere else,” but attributes it to heightened militarism following October 7th.

Given the current political climate in Israel, Palestinian citizens and those living within Gaza or the occupied West Bank have limited grounds for optimism regarding the outcome of these elections.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.