Israeli Political Landscape Shifts Toward Internal Right-Wing Divisions

As Israel approaches the 2026 elections, a significant portion of the Jewish population is identifying more distinctly with the right wing of the political spectrum. Close to 60% of Jewish Israelis align themselves with right-wing ideologies, a trend evident across various surveys and demographic studies. This overwhelming majority reflects a growing complexity within the right, highlighting important ideological differences that may shape the upcoming electoral landscape.

Polling data reveals that when breaking down the political orientation of Jewish Israelis, the right wing consistently comprises between 50% to 60% of the population. This identification spans a spectrum from “deep right” to “center-right,” showcasing a diversity of opinions and priorities within the camp. For instance, in a recent survey, 12% of respondents classified themselves as belonging to the “deep right,” illustrating the presence of a more extreme faction that perceives the mainstream right as too moderate.

The left wing, in stark contrast, remains a minority, accounting for approximately 5% of the population, while the center-left contributes an additional 15%. This leaves the right wing as the dominant force in Israeli politics, thus making the internal divisions within it more critical than the traditional left-right dichotomy.

Understanding the Internal Divisions

The internal dynamics of the right can be understood through three key issues: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, judicial reform, and the draft of Haredi students. By analyzing these issues, we can gain insight into the varying perspectives among right-wing factions.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, respondents were offered three options: strengthening control and expanding settlements, maximum separation from Palestinians while maintaining security control, or striving for a peace agreement. Within the “right” group, a significant 70% favor deepening control. In contrast, the “center-right” faction shows a preference for separation, with only 35% supporting the first option. This creates a substantial gap of 35% in perspectives on this critical issue.

Turning to the Haredi draft, the respondents were asked to choose between supporting the coalition’s exemption law or mandating the draft of young Haredim. Among the right-wing respondents, 55% support the exemption law, while only 25% of the center-right share this view, revealing a significant 30% point difference.

Judicial reform is another contentious area. When asked to choose between opposing reform, supporting reform only with broad consensus, or endorsing reform without consensus, the right wing displayed a slight majority of 52% in favor of unilateral reform. Conversely, only 18% of those identifying as center-right supported such an aggressive stance, creating a gap of 34%.

The Implications for Upcoming Elections

These ideological divides are already influencing the shadow campaign for the next election, as various factions vie for the loyalty of center-right voters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party, Likud, are focusing on judicial reform, a topic that resonates with a segment of right-wing voters. Yet, the enthusiasm for this issue may not be as widespread among the center-right as Netanyahu anticipates.

Challengers like Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot are emphasizing the Haredi draft, leveraging it as a wedge issue given the lack of support for the exemption law among center-right voters. While the draft remains a point of contention, many voters consider it important, but not the sole determining factor for their electoral choices.

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, right-wing candidates are likely to promise settlement expansions and potential annexation, but the focus may shift towards security concerns. Political maneuvering will be crucial as parties attempt to balance these promises with the complex realities on the ground.

As the electoral landscape becomes clearer, it is evident that the elections of 2026 will not simply be a battle of right versus center-left. Instead, they will represent a contest between different factions of the right, each vying for dominance within a movement that is far from monolithic. The distinctions between these groups are becoming increasingly pronounced, and the outcome may well hinge on how effectively they can address the pressing issues that resonate with their constituents.