Israel Election Focuses on Domestic Issues and Policy Continuity

Israel’s general election, scheduled for October 27, is expected to focus chiefly on domestic disputes, while the leading candidates have offered little indication of a major shift in policy toward Palestinians, according to campaign statements and analysis published before the vote. The election pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc against parties seeking to replace him. Polling cited in one report suggested neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor an opposition grouping of four Jewish-led parties would secure a Knesset majority, leaving coalition negotiations to determine the next government. The election outcome and any coalition agreement remain unknown before voting. An Israel Democracy Institute survey found different priorities among Jewish and Arab respondents. Of 605 Jewish adults surveyed from August 31 to September 3, 39% ranked foreign affairs and security among the first or second most influential factors in their party choice, while 38% cited the economy and cost of living. Among 150 Arab adults, 53.5% cited crime in Arab society and 46% the economy and cost of living. The groups received different issue lists, and the survey was not a projection of...