{
  "id": 17218865,
  "title": "My Word: Negative political thinking - opinion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/my-word-negative-political-thinking-opinion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T11:50:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-913112"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The recent Israeli election saw a polarized vote, with many voters focusing more on who they were voting against rather than who they were voting for. Voter turnout was notably high at 77.7%, particularly in the Arab sector. In neighborhoods like Jerusalem, the election day buzzed with festive activities, though political banners were fewer in number. Some attributed the reduced visibility of political banners to a shift in the battleground to social media, rather than apathy.\n\nThe Israeli political landscape is characterized by blocs rather than individual party leadership. The prime minister is not automatically the leader of the party with the most votes, but the person who can form a stable coalition with at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset. This system can result in a multitude of small parties, which, while indicative of a robust democracy, can also dilute stability and power.\n\nThe Arab parties made significant gains, which could impact the formation of the next government. The previous Netanyahu government, despite lasting only a short term, is often referred to as \"The Magician\" for his ability to navigate through the chaos following the judicial reform proposal, the October 7, 2023 Hamas invasion, and the subsequent war on multiple fronts.\n\nThe election ultimately centered on a recurring debate in Israeli politics: voting \"Only Bibi\" or \"Anyone but Bibi.\" While both left and right factions agree on the necessity of overthrowing the Iranian regime, many politicians are more preoccupied with eliminating a rival party leader. There is an ongoing cycle of political maneuvering in coalition negotiations, both before and after the election.\n\nExpect a bickering opposition, with infighting among the various parties. Paralysis within a coalition could also occur due to the diverse nature of its components. The parties led by Bennett (B’Yachad), Gadi Eisenkot (Yashar), and Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) could not agree on who would head the bloc or potentially become the prime minister or official leader of the opposition.\n\nPromises of where party lists would sit were made during the election campaign, but forming a government without either the ultra-Orthodox (haredi) or Arab parties seems difficult. Neither the haredim nor the Arab parties are likely to back a law on mass conscription, despite its importance as a contentious issue following years of war and the burden on reservists and their families.\n\nThe Israeli public must weigh the implications of constant political changes. When ministers fear short tenures, they may not plan ahead and cut corners to achieve quick wins. The judicial reform, launched by the outgoing government, is a prime example of this phenomenon. The ministers and MKs involved had expressed a desire for a judicial overhaul, but the rapid pace and intensity surprised many. Following five elections in four years, the new government did not want to risk losing time.\n\nWhile anti-government activist Tamar Gershuni was arrested in July 2025 for plotting to assassinate Netanyahu, the assassination threat seems to have been overshadowed in mainstream media coverage. The left and center-left parties boycotted Netanyahu's government following the November 2022 elections, citing various reasons.",
  "summary": "Israel’s fragmented political landscape raises questions about coalition stability, voter trust, and whether politicians can put national interests ahead of personal rivalries.",
  "key_points": [
    "77.7% voter turnout, particularly in Arab sector",
    "Arab parties gained significant seats in election",
    "Coalition formation challenging due to diverse parties"
  ],
  "editors_take": "A political landscape defined by personal rivalries and bloc-based voting threatens long-term governance by prioritizing the removal of specific leaders over the stability required for effective national planning.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}