It’s Time for a Centrist Rebrand

It’s time we reframe Israel’s political center. For too long, centrism has been positioned as a delicate balancing act between political extremes. Defined more by what it opposes than what it stands for, the center is constantly squeezed from both ends. This framing doesn’t just weaken the middle; it obscures the reality that most Israelis already share broad agreement on many critical issues. It’s time to move from the language of centrism to the language of consensus.

Centrism: Squeezed from both sides, defined by what it’s not (Ben Greenberg)

Consensus isn’t about compromise for compromise’s sake. It’s about recognizing and amplifying the voice of the clear majority. It puts the burden back on the extremes to justify their positions, rather than forcing the middle to continuously defend itself against charges of indecision or weakness.

Recent surveys show just how wide-ranging this consensus truly is. Take the issue of military conscription: a November 2024 survey found that a striking 81% of non-Haredi respondents support increased drafting of Haredi youth. That’s a clear statement. It’s not centrist ambivalence; it’s consensus.

Consensus: Shifting the burden to the extremes (Ben Greenberg)

Or consider the deeply contentious issue of judicial reform. According to the Israel Democracy Institute, more than 55% of Israelis opposed the judicial overhaul as it was proposed, compared to about 36% in favor. This isn’t a slim margin; it’s a clear majority indicating a collective desire to protect judicial independence, even if reforms are needed.

Yet, despite this evident consensus, Israel’s electoral system makes translating majority preferences into political reality difficult. Our parliamentary structure often fragments rather than unifies, allowing smaller, more extreme factions disproportionate influence.

Shifting our perspective from centrism to consensus reframes our collective identity. It acknowledges that most Israelis share common ground and that our political strength lies not in the margins, but in our shared center. It’s a reminder that the task of governing isn’t just about striking balance. It’s about listening to the clear voice of the majority.

Consensus isn’t weak, and it isn’t vague. It’s powerful precisely because it reveals what most Israelis genuinely value: fairness, shared sacrifice, security, and a democratic system we can trust.

If we embrace this shift from centrism to consensus, we empower ourselves to demand more from our politics and politicians. We clarify the terms of our national debate, placing responsibility back on the extremes to explain themselves rather than allowing them to define the conversation.

Let’s redefine our politics around consensus. It’s not just semantics. It’s the foundation for building a stronger, clearer future together.