‘Israel needs a dramatic change’: Northern voters turn against Netanyahu

Voters in northern Israel are demanding a "dramatic change" in Israeli politics, with many urging the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from government. Senior officers and soldiers, who have been on active duty in Lebanon, are particularly angry over Hezbollah's impact on the economy and on Israeli communities. They believe Netanyahu must take responsibility for the security failures of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Eyal Dror, a lieutenant-colonel reservist, shared his views on the matter from Kibbutz Dafna, near Kiryat Shmona. He called the current right-wing coalition "one of the worst" and expressed hope for a new government to address the country's economic struggles, especially in the north where about 70,000 people were evacuated during a war with Hezbollah. Opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett were praised as "very professional" potential leaders.

Barry Praag, a left-wing Democrat voter, emphasized the need for a coalition government that works with Israeli-Arab parties to tackle the Palestinian question. He stated that the country must support a two-state solution with the backing of surrounding Arab nations. Lior Shelef, also a military operations veteran, shared similar sentiments, hoping for a dramatic change in various aspects of the country, including the economy and religious people's military service.

The Hezbollah threat is still a concern for many in the north, who fear the Iran-backed group may launch another attack. Lt Col Dror believes Israel must act to weaken Hezbollah, while others hope for peace, tourism revival, and safer living conditions for their children. A rally in Tel Aviv called for an inquiry into the October 7 attack, with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot receiving support from the crowd. Netanyahu has refused to establish such a commission, claiming it would be biased against his government.