Beyond the polls: What are Israelis really thinking as they head to the ballot box?
Each new poll produces a headline that often disagrees with other outlets. Israelis follow polls like a tennis match, their heads swiveling from side to side, following the ball in play.
As the Israeli election approaches, polls offer little insight into voters' true intentions. Media outlets publish conflicting surveys, and even within the same outlet, headlines often disagree. Israelis follow these polls obsessively, like watching a tennis match and shifting their attention from side to side, following the ball.
The Magazine sought opinions from people across the country to understand their choices better. Surprising results emerged. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has gained support from left-leaning areas like Rosh Ha'ayin and haredi enclaves such as Tel Aviv. New voting approaches, like "splitting the vote" and choosing two options before picking one blindly, have also surfaced.
In Ra anana, a resident named Mike is uncertain about his vote but believes it will be either Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party or Likud. Smotrich has impressed Mike with his straight demeanor and lack of scandals. Mike plans to see how the situation develops in the coming week, as he is more concerned about Israel's current situation than American politics.
Reggie from Jerusalem and Reggie's husband have decided to split their vote: one will vote for Netanyahu, and the other for Ben-Gvir. They feel the world is on fire with antisemitism and believe that Netanyahu's actions have been too left-leaning in the past. Yori from Ra anana is focused on preventing the creation of a Palestinian state, which he fears could bring Hamas supporters to his city. For him, Smotrich's proactive stance on securing Israel's future is the most important factor.
Alan from Tel Stone supports Ben-Gvir and Ben-Gvir's potential to keep Netanyahu in check. Alan believes Netanyahu's recent actions have drifted too far to the left. Ben-Gvir's supporters highlight his principled stance and promise to bring a right-wing government to power.
Moshe, a long-time voter in Ra anana, is conflicted about his choice but plans to cast his vote in a way that prevents knowing which party it supports. Moshe feels both the right and left options are damaging to the country and wants a government that can work with either side.
Finally, Eli from Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael and Liran from Rosh Ha'ayin both support Ben-Gvir. They emphasize the importance of protecting Israel from perceived threats and view Smotrich as the best candidate to do so. Eli strongly condemns anyone who supports Netanyahu after October 7th, calling them accomplices to his crimes.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
